Harlequins up to third with win over Northampton despite Marcus Smith absence
Harlequins overcame the Covid-enforced absence of Marcus Smith to edge Northampton 41-27 at Twickenham in a victory that propelled them to third in the Gallagher Premiership.
England fly-half Smith was ruled out on Boxing Day but Quins proved they remain an effective attacking machine even without their young ringmaster as Will Edwards emerged as an able deputy.
A breathless ‘Big Game 13? produced nine tries with five delivered in the first 18 minutes alone, but the champions were more ruthless in the setting for last season’s Premiership final triumph.
🔥 Big Game 13 delivered in style.#COYQ #BigGame13 #HARvNOR pic.twitter.com/tXQ89WhC8T
— Harlequins 🃏 (@Harlequins) December 27, 2021
Number eight Alex Dombrandt was at the heart of their victory with his three tries the reward for intelligent running lines in a high-quality match that was played out in front of a 72,785 crowd.
England open their Six Nations against Scotland on February 5 and Dombrandt’s compelling performance will have given Eddie Jones plenty to reflect upon, even if he was edged for man of the match by Andre Esterhuizen.
Northampton were booed on to the pitch once the pre-match entertainment led by Pete Tong had finished but the hostile reception ignited a fiery start from Saints as Juarno Augustus crashed over from a line-out.
Quins responded when Dombrandt picked a clever line to cross from close range but the lively opening continued when Augustus touched down a kick that came off the shin of George Furbank.
And Saints stepped up their onslaught when Lewis Ludlam surged clear down the left touchline and once he was eventually halted inches short of the line Alex Waller was on hand to collect and burrow over.
But Dombrandt was pivotal again as Quins careered downfield, setting up the position for Edwards to send Cadan Murley over an undermanned line.
Dommers is on one again for @Harlequins 💪
But it seems everyone else on the pitch is too 🔥
Second half live now on @btsportrugby 📺pic.twitter.com/PMHd1jzANe
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) December 27, 2021
Esterhuizen was punching holes in defence from inside centre and the champions showed their clinical touch once more as Edwards used his footwork to create the space for Murley to run in his second.
The lead changed hands for the first time on the stroke of the interval as an arrowing line-out splintered Northampton and, showing quick wits, Danny Care took the ball to feed an onrushing Dombrandt.
Early in the second half the tempo had clearly slowed, indicating a temporary ceasefire to the fireworks that had lit up Twickenham so far, and Saints crept back in front 27-26 when Dan Biggar landed a penalty.
Matt Symons and Api Ratuniyarawa tangled as tempers flared in the 52nd minute but the scuffle prompted another exhilarating period of end to end play that ended when Louis Lynagh outpaced Courtnall Skosan into the left corner.
While Lynagh showed his gas to edge Skosan, it was the offloading skills and vision of flanker Tom Lawday that made the try as he created an opening out of nothing and supplied Luke Northmore, who delivered the final pass.
Quins’ lead was only four points but they were heavily favoured by a penalty count that was beginning to stack up against the visitors.
In a sign of just how close the game was, Quins went for goal for the first time in the closing stages with Edwards on target to extend the advantage to a converted try.
Care and Rory Hutchinson were sent to the sin-bin as another bout of shoving broke out, but there was no way back for Northampton as Dombrandt completed his hat-trick with seconds left.
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to comments