Quins face fight for Premiership survival – Andy Goode
A new coach may have brought renewed optimism and the squad might boast seven England internationals but I think Harlequins are firmly in the relegation battle this season.
Most people will be looking at it as a straight shootout between Bristol and Worcester to avoid dropping down into the Championship this season but Quins have to be included in that conversation with them for me.
They finished level on points with the Warriors in second from bottom in the table last season, it wasn’t a happy camp at all towards the end of John Kingston’s reign and you can’t just click your fingers and turn everything around straightaway.
They were in freefall in the second half of the last campaign they’ve got to prove that they’ve arrested that decline before they deserve to be mentioned as clearly above the likes of Bristol and Worcester.
They were hammered 44-13 by the Warriors in the penultimate round of last season and Alan Solomons’ men beat Exeter, Gloucester and Newcastle towards the end of 2017/18 as well so were certainly looking the better of the two before the summer.
Quins have played 10 Premiership games in 2018 and won just one of them. Everyone expects them to be better under the new regime but that’s relegation form.
I played with Guzzy [Paul Gustard] and he’s a top quality coach but I think he’s got a hell of a job on his hands there. He hasn’t had a massive amount of time to work with the players yet either because he was on the England tour to South Africa.
There’s no doubt that he’ll have shaken things up and taken people out of the comfort zone that they were allowed to get into in recent seasons but it takes time to reverse the kind of downward spiral that Harlequins are in and implement the sort of drastic change that Gustard will want.
There is obviously some real individual quality in the squad and they’ve proven that they can raise their game to beat the likes of Saracens in a one-off game but since winning the title in 2012 they’ve been disappointing every season and the last one was an embarrassment for the club.
You have to look at the likes of Chris Robshaw, Danny Care, Mike Brown, Joe Marler and James Horwill as a senior player group and ask how much they want Quins to be a success and what they’re going to change individually and collectively to turn things around.
You can’t read much into pre-season but they shipped 50 points against Glasgow in their only friendly against a top tier team, so that’s a little indication that it’s going to take Gustard more time to improve a defence that leaked 78 tries in the league last season…that’s three-and-a-half tries per game.
He’s obviously renowned for his defensive coaching but it’s going to take a while to turn that around. I remember when Richard Hill came into Worcester when I was there after we’d been coached by Phil Larder and tried to change the up-and-out defence we’d been using and introduce a full-on blitz. There were errors all over the place. I’m not saying it’ll be the same at Quins but it won’t be easy to switch systems and get it right immediately.
I certainly can’t see any reason why people would all of a sudden think they’ll be competing for a place in the top six and I don’t think they’ll go down but they’re definitely in the relegation dogfight discussion for me.
Harlequins
Ins: Nick Auterac (Bath), Max Crumpton (Bristol Bears), Alex Dombrandt (Cardiff Met), Nathan Earle (Saracens), Semi Kunatani (Toulouse), Paul Lasike(Utah Warriors), Matt Symons (Wasps) and Ben Tapuai (Bath)
Outs: Sam Aspland-Robinson (Leicester Tigers), Joe Gray (Northampton Saints), Jake Hennessey (released), Cameron Holenstein (Jersey Reds), Adam Jones (retired, Harlequins’ Scrum Coach), Charlie Matthews (Wasps),John Okafor (Yorkshire Carnegie), Charlie Piper (released), Jamie Roberts (Bath), Harry Sloan (Ealing Trailfinders), Winston Stanley (retired) and Sam Twomey (London Irish)
There have been too many seasons where one team has been cut adrift at the foot of the table in the Premiership in recent years but I can’t see that happening again this time around.
Bristol are in a much better place than London Irish were at this stage a year ago, even though they did beat Quins in the opening round.
Having their million-pound man Charles Piutau missing for the start of the season is a big blow and it’ll certainly hit them hard if he’s out for an extended period but there’s real strength in other areas of that squad.
John Afoa could be a huge signing for them, George Smith’s experience even at the age of 38 will be key and the likes of Harry Thacker and Aly Muldowney will add something to a squad that was already building nicely in the Championship under Pat Lam without the pressure of having to go through play-offs at the end of the campaign.
For me, the Bristol first team on paper is way more competitive than anything London Irish could put out last season and they should fare much better. However, there is still a major concern about the depth of the squad and how they’ll cope with the injuries that are unavoidable over the course of the season.
A lot of coaches talk about what percentage of their squad they have available to them on average throughout the season and that’ll definitely play a major role in the relegation battle.
It’s not a complete pipe dream to think that Bristol could finish above 11th but it’s a huge step up in intensity and quality from the Championship to the Premiership and I think people are getting ahead of themselves if they’re predicting a top 10 finish. They need to walk before they can run.
Bristol Bears
Ins: John Afoa (Gloucester), Jake Armstrong (Jersey Reds), Luke Daniels (Ealing Trailfinders), Tiff Eden (Nottingham), Jake Heenan (Connacht), Ed Holmes (Exeter Chiefs), James Lay (Bay of Plenty), Jordan Lay (Edinburgh), Tom Lindsay (Bedford Blues), Shaun Malton (Exeter Chiefs), Aly Muldowney (Grenoble), Piers O’Conor (Ealing Trailfinders), Tom Pincus (Jersey Reds), Charles Piutau (Ulster), Harry Randall (Gloucester), George Smith (Queensland Reds), Nic Stirzaker(Melbourne Rebels), Harry Thacker (Leicester Tigers), Lewis Thiede (Ealing Trailfinders), Yann Thomas (Rouen) and Jake Woolmore (Jersey Reds)
Outs: Ryan Bevington (Dragons), Gaston Cortes (Leicester Tigers), Max Crumpton (Harlequins), Tyler Gendall (Cornish Pirates), Alex Giltrow, Ryan Glynn, Ben Gompels, Jason Harris-Wright, David Lemi, Jordon Liney, Ross McMillan, Giorgi Nemsadze (Ospreys), James Newey, Jack O’Connell (Ealing Trailfinders), Thretton Palamo, Olly Robinson (Cardiff Blues), Billy Searle(Wasps), Soana Tonga’uiha (Ampthill), Dan Tuohy (Vannes), Jack Wallace (Richmond), Jordan Williams and Rhodri Williams (both Dragons)
Having said that, I think they have got just enough to avoid the drop and it pains me to say it but I have a feeling it could be my old club Worcester that slips down into the second tier this time around.
It’ll be close but I think the question marks over the ownership of the club could be an issue if they don’t get off to a good start and I don’t see a massive improvement in the squad compared to last season.
Francois Hougaard has been the major difference maker for them. They won five of the 10 Premiership games he started last season and if they can get him playing more matches than that, then they might just prove me wrong and survive again.
The return of Jono Lance is important too because his performances in the six games he played last season were that good that it took them away from London Irish in the lead up to Christmas.
They were relegated in 2014 and in the years that they’ve survived before and after that there has always been a really poor team underneath them, with London Irish, Bristol and London Welsh all well adrift at the bottom.
It looks like being the most competitive season ever in the Premiership again as the quality seems to increase year on year and I do think it’ll be a hell of a battle at the bottom and will go down to the wire but I just think the Warriors’ number might be up come May.
Worcester Warriors
Ins: Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Callum Black (Ulster), Cornell du Preez (Edinburgh), Michael Fatialofa (Hurricanes), Michael Heaney (Doncaster Knights), Jono Lance (Queensland Reds), Isaac Miller (London Scottish), Farai Mudariki (Tarbes), Scott van Breda (Jersey Reds), Francois Venter (Cheetahs) and Duncan Weir (Edinburgh)
Outs: Biyi Alo (Angouléme), David Denton (Leicester Tigers), Michael Dowsett (Canon Eagles), Andrew Durutalo (Ealing Trailfinders), Grayson Hart (London Scottish), Kurt Haupt (SWD Eagles), Tom Heathcote (released), Ben Howard (England 7s), Donncha O’Callaghan (retired), Sam Olver (Ealing Trailfinders), Will Spencer (Leicester Tigers), Max Stelling (Hino Red Dolphins), Peter Stringer (retired), Huw Taylor (Dragons) and Jackson Willison (Bath)
Comments on RugbyPass
He would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to comments