Quins vs Wasps, 28/09 19.45

[Raggs]

15 Matteo Minozzi (15)
14 Zach Kibirige (22)
13 Malakai Fekitoa (20)
12 Jimmy Gopperth (102)
11 Josh Bassett (123)
10 Jacob Umaga (27)
9 Dan Robson (c) (120)
1 Ben Harris (63)
2 Tom Cruse (82)
3 Kieran Brookes (38)
4 Will Rowlands (90)
5 James Gaskell (117)
6 Brad Shields (31)
7 Jack Willis (59)
8 Tom Willis (18)

Replacements
16 Gabriel Oghre (25)
17 Tom West (30)
18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen (18)
19 Tim Cardall (17)
20 Alfie Barbeary (3)
21 Thomas Young (116)
22 Ben Vellacott (6)
23 Michael Le Bourgeois (33)



Harlequins starting XV:
1. Santiago Garcia Botta (22)
2. Scott Baldwin (18)
3. Wilco Louw (2)
4. Dino Lamb (32)
5. Glen Young (18)
6. Chris Robshaw (298) – Captain
7. Will Evans (19)
8. James Chisholm (96)
9. Scott Steele (6)
10. Marcus Smith (85)
11. Aaron Morris (51)
12. Andre Esterhuizen (4)
13. Joe Marchant (91)
14. Chris Ashton (5)
15. Mike Brown (333)

Game Changers:
16. Elia Elia (53)
17. Jordan Els (0)
18 .Simon Kerrod (26)
19. Tevita Cavubati (19)
20. Alex Dombrandt (50)
21. Danny Care (281)
22. Brett Herron (14)
23. James Lang (66)

---------------------

Huge game for Wasps, lose it and they basically wave goodbye to top 4. Quins don't have much to lose, or to win, but it's Robshaw's last home game for quins I believe, so a big occassion.

[Digby]

Who's covering the back three for Wasps?

[Puja]

Who's covering the back three for Wasps?

You'd imagine Gopperth/Umaga to 15 and Le Bourgeois to centre.

Can't say that's the strongest second row unit that Quins have ever put together...

Puja

[Raggs]

Who's covering the back three for Wasps?

Vellacott for wing, Gopperth for fullback. Barbeary can play 12 if really needed too.

[fivepointer]

Interesting to see how the 2 young 10's get on.
Wasps with the momentum and the motivation. Win tomorrow and they have a 6 day break before playing Exeter 2nds at home.

[Mikey Brown]

Who's covering the back three for Wasps?

Vellacott for wing, Gopperth for fullback. Barbeary can play 12 if really needed too.

It might be fun seeing how many different positions he gets to play before any consistent time at hooker.

[Digby]

Who's covering the back three for Wasps?

Vellacott for wing, Gopperth for fullback. Barbeary can play 12 if really needed too.

Granted that Quins team looks like something which rhymes with quite, but it's an interesting use of players by Wasps. It might of course be last man standing at this point

[Puja]

Who's covering the back three for Wasps?

Vellacott for wing, Gopperth for fullback. Barbeary can play 12 if really needed too.

Damn, now I want Wasps to have three quickfire injuries in the backs so I can see that happen.

Puja

[Peej]

This is where Wasps can secure Top 4, which would be a phenomenal result given where they were in December. But they have a worrying habit of bottling it in these situations, and often struggle against Quins.

[Mr Mwenda]

Will Robshaw make it to 300 before he goes?

[Puja]

Will Robshaw make it to 300 before he goes?

He'd have to play both this one and the Leicester one. Certainly possible.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Not loving the second row combination, but otherwise, it’s a pretty strong side. Steele has quickly established himself to he extent that I’m perfectly happy for him to start at 9 and Chisholm fully deserves to be keeping Dombrandt out at the moment.

I’m really hoping we can use the emotion of Robbo’s final game at the Stoop for some additional motivation. He deserves to go out on a win.

Injury permitting, there’s no way we’d leave him one short on the 300.

[TheNomad]

How good is Tom Willis?

I've seen a bit of him, but not loads. Looks pretty handy from what I can tell - strong carrier, good tackler. But I don't feel I've seen enough to get a proper view

[Raggs]

How good is Tom Willis?

I've seen a bit of him, but not loads. Looks pretty handy from what I can tell - strong carrier, good tackler. But I don't feel I've seen enough to get a proper view

Feel like he's still finding his feet in the senior side, but he's rapidly getting there, not concerned by him at all.

[twitchy]

I remember when jack broke through that people said that tom was even higher rated. Obviously that was just at age grade.

[Scrumhead]

Tom Willis looks like another very handy player. He looks like a good all rounder and can jump in the lineout which is very helpful for an 8.

[Puja]

Curry/Curry, Willis/Willis, Vunipola/Vunipola, Simmonds/Simmonds - can't get away from brothers angling for England honours.

Puja

[Banquo]

Curry/Curry, Willis/Willis, Vunipola/Vunipola, Simmonds/Simmonds - can't get away from brothers angling for England honours.

Puja

And possibly two unrelated Moons, if the stars align

[16th man]

Curry/Curry, Willis/Willis, Vunipola/Vunipola, Simmonds/Simmonds - can't get away from brothers angling for England honours.

Puja

And possibly two unrelated Moons, if the stars align

With a few of Hills knocking around too.

What do we reckon is the fewest number of surnames we'd need for a viable 23 from current players?

I recognise that having the Youngs brothers might save us one by getting a 2 and 9 combo, but even in a pointless nusing like this I'd rather rule out that horror at all costs.

[Stom]

Curry/Curry, Willis/Willis, Vunipola/Vunipola, Simmonds/Simmonds - can't get away from brothers angling for England honours.

Puja

And possibly two unrelated Moons, if the stars align

With a few of Hills knocking around too.

What do we reckon is the fewest number of surnames we'd need for a viable 23 from current players?

I recognise that having the Youngs brothers might save us one by getting a 2 and 9 combo, but even in a pointless nusing like this I'd rather rule out that horror at all costs.

Unfortunately, we’d end up with a squad of 12 backrows, lol.

What about Cole/Coles?

[Raggs]

I remember when jack broke through that people said that tom was even higher rated. Obviously that was just at age grade.

I think Tom is the more skillful ball handling player.

I guess Tom and Ben Curry could be a good comparison. Ben has a better range of skills, Tom is a greater physical presence.

[16th man]

I remember when jack broke through that people said that tom was even higher rated. Obviously that was just at age grade.

I think Tom is the more skillful ball handling player.

I guess Tom and Ben Curry could be a good comparison. Ben has a better range of skills, Tom is a greater physical presence.

Cue the dismissal of the Currys from some quarters as being either clog handed or powder puff.

[Raggs]

Quins have lost a couple of players early, Baldwin and Botta are out. 2 debutants replace them (presumably to the bench).

[Raggs]

Actually Marc Thomas goes straight to the starting shirt.

[Raggs]

Surely Tom Willis was taken out in the air there? Badly?