Montpelier v Harlequins

[fivepointer]

Montpellier: Bouthier; Rattez, Darmon, Doumayrou, Ngandebe; Garbisi, Reinach; Forletta, Paenga-Amosa, Lamositele; Chalureau, Willemse, Janse van Rensburg, Galletier, Mercer.

Replacements: Giudicelli, Rodgers, Haouas, Dakuwaqa, Aprasidze, Pollard, Tisseron, Verhaeghe.

Harlequins: Jones; Lynagh, Marchant, Esterhuizen, Murley; Smith, Care; Marler, Walker, Collier; Symons, Tizard; Hammond, Lawday, Dombrandt (capt.)

Replacements: Gray, Kerrod, Louw, Jurevicius, Wallace, Gjaltema, Edwards, David

[Spiffy]

Couple of potentially interesting head-to-heads here.

Mercer v.Dombrandt.
Garbisi v. Smith.

[p/d]

Couple of potentially interesting head-to-heads here.

Mercer v.Dombrandt.

Clear winner there me thinks

[Spiffy]

Couple of potentially interesting head-to-heads here.

Mercer v.Dombrandt.

Clear winner there me thinks

No doubt. Hard to realize Mercer is still just 24 (same as Dombrandt) - he seems to have been around for a long time. He had a point to prove today. A smart footballing 8 who can mix it up when has too and has some gas. Dombrandt is a very good 8 too but he frequently looks a little awkward and just slightly uncoordinated in his movements.

[Mikey Brown]

Well that was a bit of a reality check.

[Timbo]

Well that was a bit of a reality check.

Reality check or just Quins being Quins?

[Mikey Brown]

Well that was a bit of a reality check.

Reality check or just Quins being Quins?

Well maybe a reminder that just bring relentlessly Quins doesn’t always work?

I could hardly look to be honest, so not trying to offer any deep analysis.

[Danno]

You can't win against Quins if you're ahead at HT, would someone inform the French clubs please.

[Timbo]

Well that was a bit of a reality check.

Reality check or just Quins being Quins?

Well maybe a reminder that just bring relentlessly Quins doesn’t always work?

I could hardly look to be honest, so not trying to offer any deep analysis.

Well they’re going to have to go all out Quins in the second leg. Smith’s form is starting to become a bit of a worry. He’s slowly gone from playing pretty well but things not quite clicking, to actively being a teeny bit of a liability. Did not have a good game today and actively struggled with Montpellier’s line speed.

[Spiffy]

Reality check or just Quins being Quins?

Well maybe a reminder that just bring relentlessly Quins doesn’t always work?

I could hardly look to be honest, so not trying to offer any deep analysis.

Well they’re going to have to go all out Quins in the second leg. Smith’s form is starting to become a bit of a worry. He’s slowly gone from playing pretty well but things not quite clicking, to actively being a teeny bit of a liability. Did not have a good game today and actively struggled with Montpellier’s line speed.

Smit's a closely marked man now, so things are going to be more difficult for him. Perhaps his teammates could help with a bit more protection. He is still a very good FH and not afraid to get stuck in defensively. Wish he'd give up his silly bunny-jump-vertical-side-step. It just looks flash and doesn't do much.

[Cameo]

Not been watching but surprised by the Smith comment as I heard he was great last week (Guardian article). Was that all hype?

[FKAS]

Not been watching but surprised by the Smith comment as I heard he was great last week (Guardian article). Was that all hype?

Off day from the tee. Outside of that there was nothing to stop him running riot Vs LI last weekend.

Seemed to struggle against the physicality of Montpellier in the first half/50 mins but as they started to tire he was able to pick holes in their defence. Quins will feel confident of inflicting plenty of damage at the Stoop.

[fivepointer]

Quins will feel they're still in this. They did a lot right yesterday but it was a case of turnovers and then getting done on the counter, particularly in the 2nd quarter when things got away from them.
Smith was just very well contained by an excellent defence.
For the neutral it was terrific game. The ball seemed to be in play for ages, there was plenty of ambition, some very good individual performances and some cracking tries.

[francoisfou]

Couple of potentially interesting head-to-heads here.

Mercer v.Dombrandt.

Clear winner there me thinks

No doubt. Hard to realize Mercer is still just 24 (same as Dombrandt) - he seems to have been around for a long time. He had a point to prove today. A smart footballing 8 who can mix it up when has too and has some gas. Dombrandt is a very good 8 too but he frequently looks a little awkward and just slightly uncoordinated in his movements.

There'll surely be a few Premiership clubs who'd move heaven and earth to sign Mercer at the end of his contract (2 years, I believe?), but would Eddie include him in his England squad?

[FKAS]

Clear winner there me thinks

No doubt. Hard to realize Mercer is still just 24 (same as Dombrandt) - he seems to have been around for a long time. He had a point to prove today. A smart footballing 8 who can mix it up when has too and has some gas. Dombrandt is a very good 8 too but he frequently looks a little awkward and just slightly uncoordinated in his movements.

There'll surely be a few Premiership clubs who'd move heaven and earth to sign Mercer at the end of his contract (2 years, I believe?), but would Eddie include him in his England squad?

Doubt Eddie will, his successor might and Mercer will arrive home in time for the changeover.

Agree on his popularity with Prem clubs. I think he comes out of contract as the salary cap goes back up and just before the emphasis on EQ players comes in. On current form I can't imagine Montpellier being keen on seeing him go though, they'll be putting their best financial foot forward to keep him.

[francoisfou]

No doubt. Hard to realize Mercer is still just 24 (same as Dombrandt) - he seems to have been around for a long time. He had a point to prove today. A smart footballing 8 who can mix it up when has too and has some gas. Dombrandt is a very good 8 too but he frequently looks a little awkward and just slightly uncoordinated in his movements.

There'll surely be a few Premiership clubs who'd move heaven and earth to sign Mercer at the end of his contract (2 years, I believe?), but would Eddie include him in his England squad?

Doubt Eddie will, his successor might and Mercer will arrive home in time for the changeover.

Agree on his popularity with Prem clubs. I think he comes out of contract as the salary cap goes back up and just before the emphasis on EQ players comes in. On current form I can't imagine Montpellier being keen on seeing him go though, they'll be putting their best financial foot forward to keep him.

Montpellier's main sponsor is Altrad (who support the XV de France too!) so they won't be short of a bob or too come negotiation time.

[Scrumhead]

Quins will feel they're still in this. They did a lot right yesterday but it was a case of turnovers and then getting done on the counter, particularly in the 2nd quarter when things got away from them.
Smith was just very well contained by an excellent defence.
For the neutral it was terrific game. The ball seemed to be in play for ages, there was plenty of ambition, some very good individual performances and some cracking tries.

Yep. Weird first half. We were in the Montpellier half for most of the first 20mins but fluffed several decent opportunities with knock-ons or getting turned over. A couple of fairly lucky tries (bad kick from Smith, unusually bad defending from Marchant), some individual brilliance from Mercer and the yellow from Esterhuizen meant the second quarter was terrible.

Second half was much better, but the most annoying thing for me was giving away that last penalty. The clock was in the red and rather than taking an 11 point margin we decided to try to attack from our 22 only to get turned over and concede the additional 3.

With all that said, Montpellier’s away record is pretty poor and a 14 point margin isn’t totally overwhelming. We could still make the last 8.