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Harlequins have announced their team to head north and face Sale Sharks on Friday night and Alex Dombrandt’s absence has raised some questions.
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The rampant loose forward has been on the bench for Quins’ past two matches, and this has caused some concern given the uncertainty over his future. While there are reports that the 22-year-old has signed a new deal at the Stoop, there are those that are still sceptical anything has happened, and his omission only fuels the suspicions of those on social media that his future lies elsewhere.
Tellingly, he also not listed as absent due to injury.
Why is Dombrant constantly being left out? Can’t be a good sign with the rumours he’s leaving ??
— Jack Gammans (@jgam89) January 2, 2020
Given his age and the reputation he has already got after a barnstorming debut season in 2018/19, there is likely to be a host of clubs that would want his signature.
https://twitter.com/JosephL17474542/status/1212721133667192832?s=20
Need to start 2020 with a win and start a good run in the league. Good to see @KyleSinckler back, hope the rumours about leaving are wrong, where is @Alex_dombrandt on the team sheet, and also hope the rumours about him leaving are wrong as well #COYQ
— Darren Over (@DarrenOver) January 2, 2020
However, some have simply put this down to squad rotation, which is an issue in the season after a Rugby World Cup. While Dombrandt did not make Eddie Jones’ squad to travel to Japan, he was in the training squads prior to the tournament, and played in the match against the Barbarians in May.
This would have compromised the mandatory five-week rest period players needed to be given, and as a result, players are going to be used sparingly throughout the season. After all, he started at No8 in both contests against Ulster in the Champions Cup, which were arguably Harlequins’ two biggest games this season to date.
With a call-up for the Six Nations looking very likely, Paul Gustard will also want to manage his players to ensure they are still firing on all cylinders come the end of the season. However, until something concrete is revealed about Dombrandt’s future, there will always be concerns amongst fans that they could be losing one of their most promising players.
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Harlequins Starting XV:
1 Joe Marler (198)
2 Elia Elia (49)
3 Kyle Sinckler (143)
4 Stephan Lewies (11)
5 Matt Symons (35)
6 James Chisholm (80) (VC)
7 Chris Robshaw (286) (Captain)
8 Tom Lawday (11)
9 Danny Care (268) (VC)
10 Marcus Smith (71)
11 Vereniki Goneva (4)
12 Paul Lasike (14)
13 Cadan Murley (25)
14 Gabriel Ibitoye (31)
15 Ross Chisholm (114)
Replacements:
16 Jack Musk (6)
17 Santiago Garcia Botta (9)
18 Will Collier (162)
19 Tevita Cavubati (8)
20 Semi Kunatani (16)
21 Martin Landajo (10)
22 Brett Herron (4)
23 Aaron Morris (36)
Not available due to injury: Forwards
Rob Buchanan
Scott Baldwin
George Head
Phil Swainston
Glen Young
Jack Clifford
Archie White
Will Evans
Backs
James Lang
Ben Tapuai
Francis Saili
Michele Campagnaro
Nathan Earle
Mike Brown
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One of Welsh Rugby’s biggest characters on and off the pitch, RugbyPass travelled to Brecon to see how life after rugby is treating Andy Powell.
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments