Quins v Saints

[Stom]

Harlequins squad to face Northampton Saints (Harlequins appearances)

15. Mike Brown (291)
14. Charlie Walker (79)
13. Alofa Alofa (42)
12. Jamie Roberts (43)
11. Tim Visser (49)
10. Marcus Smith (15)
9. Danny Care (235)

1. Joe Marler (161)
2. Dave Ward (Captain, 131)
3. Kyle Sinckler (110)
4. George Merrick (73)
5. Ben Glynn (13)
6. James Chisholm (44)
7. Chris Robshaw (250)
8. Mat Luamanu (55)

16. Elia Elia (10)
17. Lewis Boyce (9)
18. Phil Swainston (5)
19. Charlie Matthews (151)
20. Luke Wallace (151)
21. Jono Kitto (3)
22. James Lang (11)
23. Henry Cheeseman (9)

Northampton Saints

15. Harry Mallinder
14. Ahsee Tuala
13. Rob Horne
12. Luther Burrell
11. Ben Foden
10. Piers Francis
9. Nic Groom

1. Campese Ma’afu
2. Dylan Hartley (c)
3. Jamal Ford-Robinson
4. Api Ratuniyarawa
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Tom Wood
7. Jamie Gibson
8. Teimana Harrison

16. Mikey Haywood
17. Francois van Wyk
18. Paul Hill
19. Michael Paterson
20. Ben Nutley
21. Cobus Reinach
22. Stephen Myler
23. George North

It's crazy how good that Saints team looks on paper and how poor they've been playing.

And how many we're still missing at Quins. Alofa is a pretty terrible 13.

[fivepointer]

Good to see Wallace back. Marchant still unfit, its been a while now.

No denying Saints have talent. thats why its so disappointing to see them play so poorly.

Will the Twickenham experience inspire one of the teams?

[Adam_P]

I'm glad to see Nutley involved in the first team again. He almost always impresses, and inexplicably drops out of the squad. Still we persist with Wood and Gibson at 6 and 7, which we know does not work as a balanced back row. I'm glad Ma'afu is given another start, after Saints having a severe lack of physicality around the park recently, I thought he really brought some of that back in defence last week. I wonder when we might decide to start playing wingers on the wing again...

Both these teams are desperate to find some form, so hopefully that translates into a feisty game with lots of endeavour to score some tries.

[Scrumhead]

Good to see Wallace back. Marchant still unfit, its been a while now.

No denying Saints have talent. thats why its so disappointing to see them play so poorly.

Will the Twickenham experience inspire one of the teams?

Absolutely. A shame not to see Bothma and I'd much rather Elia was starting, but that's close to the best side we can put out at the moment.

I'm not sure on the latest with Marchant and Clifford. We definitely need them back.

This really could go either way, but I'm hoping that Quins will turn it on today.

3 defeats in our last 3 games obviously isn't the most positive indicator. However, I really don't know how much to read in to our European performances and there's no shame in losing by a point at Kingston Park, especially when we were close to nicking it.

The first game against Ulster in the snow was poor, but from the stands it felt like Ulster fancied it and adapted to the conditions better than we did. For the game in Belfast, we put out a cobbled together side for a dead-rubber.

[Banquo]

according to my TV, this game is also on Channel 5? Have I missed summat?

[twitchy]

Good spot, yes it's on 5.

[Banquo]

Good spot, yes it's on 5.

was there a deal done that I've missed

[16th man]

Good spot, yes it's on 5.

was there a deal done that I've missed

Looks like some common sense has crept in and the decision to get some broader exposure for the game has been taken.

Not sure that that won't backfire with it being Quin's vs Saints, but the general thinking is sound.

[Banquo]

Good spot, yes it's on 5.

was there a deal done that I've missed

Looks like some common sense has crept in and the decision to get some broader exposure for the game has been taken.

Not sure that that won't backfire with it being Quin's vs Saints, but the general thinking is sound.

yes, but who made the decision, and when and what

[16th man]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... n-bt-sport

[Banquo]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... n-bt-sport

great, thanks. Looks like a big hole emerging for BT Sport tho.

[twitchy]

I don't think I've seen glynn before, any good?

[Tom Moore]

Sinckler's hand before the line look slick.

[Mikey Brown]

Mallinder!!! LOL. Jesus christ.

[Banquo]

Mallinder!!! LOL. Jesus christ.

awks

Saints look pretty poor at the moment; giving it away, loads of missed tackles (55% missed so far!), even the lineout looks iffy

[twitchy]

I keep thinking quins are sarries in this kit.

[Banquo]

forward pass or two in that I thought....but ripped em apart

[twitchy]

This could get nasty. Should have televised wasps vs bath.

[Banquo]

Can't work out whether Saints are shyte or quins brilliant!

[Banquo]

This could get nasty. Should have televised wasps vs bath.

thought they did?

Mallinder mare continues

[Tigersman]

Hasn't Gustard been helping Saints?

Wonder if the tigers part of him was coaching....

[twitchy]

Grim for mallinder jnr.

[Mikey Brown]

Grim for mallinder jnr.

I'm struggling to watch it to be honest.

I have nothing against the guy. He's very talented. Hard not to laugh though.

[Adam_P]

I was actually hopeful before this game after the improvement against Chiefs, this is fucking dire

[Banquo]

Grim for mallinder jnr.

I'm struggling to watch it to be honest.

I have nothing against the guy. He's very talented. Hard not to laugh though.

he may be talented, but imo he needs a re-boot. Hopefully the new head coach will give him a kick up the 'arris!!