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#Post#: 48316--------------------------------------------------
Will Evans
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: September 1, 2020, 7:34 am
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I know this guy has been covered in the Quins v Saints thread
but just thought we should talk about what I think he
potentially means for our club. For me, his performance at the
weekend was one of the most heartening feelings I think I've had
as a Quins fan for some time - I really feel he might be one of
those vital cogs we've been missing. I'll be honest, when we
signed him I thought he was too small - I had real doubts. But
coupled with Chis Jnr's coming of age and the fast-tracking of
Dombrandt from uni rugby to possible England selection, I can
actually see a post-Robshaw/Clifford back row that we can build
success on. Obviously we need depth - and I look forward to
seeing who we bring in, but I really feel that the following
back row matches up favourably to most, if not all, other Prem
back rows:
6. Chisholm - Aggressive all round game, hard tackler, a key
ball carrier, is often effective at the breakdown too. I think
he'll get the captain's armband - he deserves it.
7. Evans - If the weekend is anything to go by then he's an
absolute dog in the same way Tom Curry is for Sale, something we
haven't had in the Quins back row for a long time - and
something you just can't get away without given the new law
interpretations. He also looked quick, aggressive in the tackle,
showed some nice hands.
8. Dombrandt - Just box office isn't he? Easter 2.0, but
quicker, runs better lines and possibly with even better hands.
What more needs to be said?
I'm excited for these three to run out together regularly. Which
begs another, more difficult head vs heart question. What combos
do you all want to see most often for the rest of this strange
old season? Of course, Robbo being the legend that he is, I
don't expect to see him dropped - especially while he's still
playing as well as he is. The sentimental me says give him every
minute we can - hopefully in front of more and more fans as long
as the second wave can be held off just long enough for us to
complete the season. Give him the send off he's undoubtedly
earned. It's the least we can do to repay all the memories he's
given us.
But then I do start to wonder if the above back row should now
be our go-to. It's the back row we'll be seeing next season, and
hopefully many more after that. If now isn't the right time to
let them play together, make mistakes together, develop together
as a unit... when is? My head says that 6. Chis / 7. Evans / 8.
Dommers should now be the unit that goes out there for the games
we're targeting to win - those "A Team" games. I'd give Robbo
the captain's armband and the starting shirt for the Prem Cup
Final - in the hope that he gets to lift that trophy at the end
of it. But the lifelong Quins fan in me says let's also give
this new era the best start it can get. Starting now.
#Post#: 48317--------------------------------------------------
Re: Will Evans
DIR By: Twickersman
Date: September 1, 2020, 7:50 am
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Agreed the three players you have put forward are excellent and
look as if they could be our A back row unit.
However, as we know Injuries especially amongst all action back
rowers are regular and often bad in terms of length off the
pitch.
Lawday is a decent back up, Robshaw is emperious and it is such
a shame he is leaving at the end of the season.
We need at least two new back row players. To help shipment the
special A back row.
It's super positive and k agree that the weekend was heartening.
Especially when the back row was up against someone like Lewis
Ludlum a current England international.
#Post#: 48320--------------------------------------------------
Re: Will Evans
DIR By: poorfour
Date: September 1, 2020, 8:32 am
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Chis / Evans / Dombrandt has a good feel to it, if lacking a bit
of Robshaw's everywhereness, and Lawday's capable of rotating
with Chis and Dommers. What we need is a couple more groundhogs
- which is why it's a shame we couldn't hang on to Semi.
I would expect that the new interpretation will create space for
some teams to unearth a few unheralded gems from the
Championship or uni. Players who like Evans would have been a
bit small last year but have the speed and skills for the
breakdown will find their stock rising.
It's also good news for Luke Wallace, who's been positive for
Tigers from what little I've seen.
#Post#: 48322--------------------------------------------------
Re: Will Evans
DIR By: KentQuin
Date: September 1, 2020, 9:04 am
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--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> I would expect that the new interpretation will create space
for some teams to unearth a few unheralded gems from the
Championship or uni. Players who like Evans would have been a
bit small last year but have the speed and skills for the
breakdown will find their stock rising.
>
--- End Quote ---
Spot on. The current breakdown interpretations are favouring
Evans and more mobile back rowers in general. I, Quinston
Churchill and a few others on this forum have been championing
Evans to get a run in the side for a little while. Even his pre
lockdown performances were decent (he gave the Clermont back row
a tough time).
What is a certainty is that the market for "jackals" will rise
as we get closer to the end of the season. Hopefully we can
steal a march on others in the recruitment stakes.
#Post#: 48323--------------------------------------------------
Re: Will Evans
DIR By: honkytonk
Date: September 1, 2020, 9:08 am
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And we have another good option in the Academy, Jack Kenningham
#Post#: 48324--------------------------------------------------
Re: Will Evans
DIR By: raedarius
Date: September 1, 2020, 9:42 am
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Evans has earned a 'minor legend' status for being the smallest
forward ever (as the story will become over the years...), yet
being sufficient of a threat to cause Saints to change tactic
and miss out on the bonus point, by staring Naiyaravoro down
when Smith was put in the scrum.
He'll be in and out of favour as the years and interpretations
pass, I suspect, but he's going to be really important to us for
the coming months.
#Post#: 48348--------------------------------------------------
Re: Will Evans
DIR By: Quinston Churchill
Date: September 1, 2020, 1:46 pm
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Evans has always been a highly promising player. He’s just been
hampered by a combination of injuries and being unfortunate to
have been at Tigers during the weird transition period from
Cockerill to Mauger to O’Connor to Murphy where there was no
consistency in their approach and generally size was the most
important consideration.
His situation is very similar to Lewis Ludlam. Both were key
parts of JWC sides that made the final (Ludlam’s lost, Evans’
won) getting great individual recognition in the process, only
to return to their clubs where they got virtually no opportunity
to break through. Both then got injured and didn’t really
feature. Ludlam finally got a break under Boyd and made it all
the way to the RWC. Evans’ opportunity is coming later (and
thankfully with us rather than Tigers) but the class has always
been apparent.
Also worth noting that Evans outshone Jack Willis in that JWC
squad.
#Post#: 48367--------------------------------------------------
Re: Will Evans
DIR By: NevsLeftBoot
Date: September 1, 2020, 2:48 pm
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--- Quote from: honkytonk link ---
>
> And we have another good option in the Academy, Jack
Kenningham
>
--- End Quote ---
Was very impressed with him. In a poor a league team. Hope he
keeps progressing!
#Post#: 48383--------------------------------------------------
Re: Will Evans
DIR By: Cookie
Date: September 2, 2020, 3:36 am
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Been bigging him up for ages. He's been in great form. Two
points that I think were spotted on FB. Firstly, when they
Saints brought on Naiyaravoro to run at Smith, they put Smith to
blind side flanker and Evans cut him down as part of that
brilliant late stand to deny them a bonus point. And secondly,
for the brilliant try started by Browny, who was on Ashton's
shoulder as he ran in..........Evans.
Along with Symons, he now needs be no longer be referred to as
'unheralded', 'underrated' etc.
#Post#: 48409--------------------------------------------------
Re: Will Evans
DIR By: Guildford Quin
Date: September 2, 2020, 6:31 am
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I was one of the dissenting voices who thought he might be too
small to thrive at Prem level, although I did think faster
summer rugby on harder grounds might suit his game. He's been
outstanding the last couple of matches, but I'm waiting to see
if he still has the same impact in slower/wetter conditions
before heralding him as the new messiah.
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