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#Post#: 71057--------------------------------------------------
Brian Moore's Column
DIR By: Jay
Date: June 28, 2021, 3:03 pm
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For those not subscribing to the Telegraph or using your free
articles for something else. Here is Brians' column.
Vibrant and progressive - classy Harlequins rise to occasion
once again
Renowned as a cliquey club of old buffers and city boys, those
in charge of Quins deserve huge credit for the transformation
BRIAN MOORE
28 June 2021 • 7:30am
Brian Moore
Stephen Lewies, Mike Brown and Alex Dombrandt of Harlequins lift
the Gallagher Premiership Trophy
Harlequins produced a monumental performance at Twickenham
CREDIT: Getty Images
Harlequins move into a different class. Have they played their
final?” A question Warren Gatland, posed about England after
they thrashed New Zealand in the semi-finals of the 2019 World
Cup. It turned out that they had.
The same was asked about Harlequins after their astounding
comeback win against Bristol last week. That game must have
drained them physically and mentally, and anyone who predicted a
repeat performance against Exeter must have done so in hope
rather than expectation.
It is not hyperbolic to describe what Quins delivered at
Twickenham on Saturday as astonishing. Their thrilling 40-38
victory over the Chiefs replicated the derring-do and physical
commitment shown against the Bears which I, for one, doubted was
possible.
Without a head coach or director of rugby, their players have
been empowered by coaches Nick Evans, Adam Jones and Jerry
Flannery and have accepted the responsibility with alacrity. It
is obvious that while they play with structure, they are
sufficiently confident to eschew the planned move in favour of
what they see developing in front of them. Lots of people use
the phrase “heads-up rugby” but few genuinely play that way.
ADVERTISING
The experience of Joe Marler and Danny Care was central to
Quins’ win, tempering ambition with streetwise decision-making.
With Marler you also got a running commentary that would be a
bestseller, if transcribed. Add to this the youthful
fearlessness of Louis Lynagh and Tyrone Green and Quins had a
potent offering.
Exeter are renowned as a second-half side and their bench
enabled them to reverse Quins’ momentum. Several Quins players
were on their knees when Sam Simmonds and Ollie Devoto scored
tries to give Exeter the lead in the last quarter of the game.
At that point, the pre-match odds of 1-4 on an Exeter win seemed
about right because the Chiefs do not let teams escape when in
control.
As you watch games, you wonder which moments will be decisive.
In this one it could have been Joe Marchant’s missed conversion,
when Marcus Smith was in the sin-bin. It could have been the
period when Quins successively lost their own throw on two
line-outs, then gave away a scrum penalty and a turnover.
Marcus Smith of Harlequins offloads as he is tackled by Jannes
Kirsten
Marcus Smith delivered in his England audition CREDIT: Getty
Images
Having watched the game again, I would highlight not just one
moment, but several, and they all involved Quins fly-half Smith.
These clinched the game, and they were not just acts of
creativity or his two nerveless touchline conversions. His
cut-out pass for Andre Esterhuizen’s try looked effortless, but
it was an act of precision, delivered at full speed. It allowed
Cadan Murley to take the ball at full pace and Exeter did not
have the time to reorganise defensively. In contrast, several
similar attempts from the Chiefs failed ignominiously.
Smith also had the confidence to call for the ball when Quins
were deep into Exeter’s 22. When teams get into this position,
the temptation is to play narrower and narrower and try to
bulldoze the ball over the line.
Smith was alert to scoring chances out wide and then made angled
runs which took two defenders out of play. The resulting two
tries for Lynagh provided a dramatic ending to the game.
Those runs were obvious to everyone watching, but most people
would not have appreciated equally, if not more important, plays
from Quins’ wunderkind.
The fashionable wisdom is that Smith is vulnerable in defence,
but he did not shirk his defensive duty. His tackles could not
be described as dominant, but they did not allow the runners to
break Quins’ first-up defensive line and that was enough.
In the lead up to Lynagh’s tries Smith again showed that,
although small in stature, he is brave. Twice he recognised that
he was one of the closest support players to the breakdown. Not
only was he prepared to get into the rucks, but he also cleared
out much bigger opponents and prevented the ball being turned
over.
Smith is the coming man, not yesterday’s, and must no longer be
overlooked by England.
Exeter’s head coach, Rob Baxter, showed class in his post-match
interview when he generously said this day was all about
Harlequins and not analysing Exeter’s performance. In the past,
whenever class and Quins were mentioned, it was in the context
of their social or economic standing. Renowned as a cliquey club
of old buffers and city boys, they nevertheless survived
relegation and “Bloodgate” and remained in situ while many other
Premiership clubs left their spiritual homes.
Those in charge of Quins deserve huge credit for transforming
them into a vibrant, welcoming, and progressive club. This
season they have won the men’s Premiership and women’s Premier
15s titles and hosted professional rugby’s first Pride Game
celebrating LGBT+ inclusivity.
That is the only sort of class that should count in today’s
world.
#Post#: 71059--------------------------------------------------
Re: Brian Moore's Column
DIR By: Quintron
Date: June 28, 2021, 3:08 pm
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I though Brian Moore’s column would be longer
#Post#: 71063--------------------------------------------------
Re: Brian Moore's Column
DIR By: Nico Wilson
Date: June 28, 2021, 3:18 pm
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--- Quote ---
>
> With Marler you also got a running commentary that would be a
bestseller, if transcribed.
>
--- End Quote ---
This has made my day
#Post#: 71069--------------------------------------------------
Re: Brian Moore's Column
DIR By: Quinten Poulsen
Date: June 28, 2021, 4:01 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Quintron link ---
>
> I though Brian Moore’s column would be longer
>
--- End Quote ---
It is, but this forum is wider.
#Post#: 71076--------------------------------------------------
Re: Brian Moore's Column
DIR By: Quintron
Date: June 28, 2021, 4:19 pm
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--- Quote from: Quinten Poulsen link ---
>
> It is, but this forum is wider.
>
--- End Quote ---
*SNORKS*
#Post#: 71087--------------------------------------------------
Re: Brian Moore's Column
DIR By: Bolly-Quin
Date: June 28, 2021, 5:59 pm
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--- Quote from: Quinten Poulsen link ---
>
> It is, but this forum is wider.
>
--- End Quote ---
It's stout!
#Post#: 71114--------------------------------------------------
Re: Brian Moore's Column
DIR By: Kermitpower
Date: June 29, 2021, 3:55 am
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The biggest turning point for me was one that didn't directly
involve Smith.
It was when Exeter took a kick for 3 points to give themselves a
5 point lead. Exeter! Of all the teams who just don't kick
penalties, they chose to do so when it came to the crunch moment
against Quins on Saturday.
That was the point at which I knew we were going to win the
game. :)
#Post#: 71118--------------------------------------------------
Re: Brian Moore's Column
DIR By: Fearless Fred
Date: June 29, 2021, 4:11 am
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--- Quote from: Kermitpower link ---
>
> The biggest turning point for me was one that didn't directly
involve Smith.
>
> It was when Exeter took a kick for 3 points to give themselves
a 5 point lead. Exeter! Of all the teams who just don't kick
penalties, they chose to do so when it came to the crunch moment
against Quins on Saturday.
>
> That was the point at which I knew we were going to win the
game. :)
>
--- End Quote ---
I think I'm correct that this was the only kick at the posts
(outside conversion attempts) by either side on Saturday. That
is quite a stat when you think about it.
#Post#: 71124--------------------------------------------------
Re: Brian Moore's Column
DIR By: dinsdale
Date: June 29, 2021, 4:45 am
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--- Quote from: Kermitpower link ---
>
> The biggest turning point for me was one that didn't directly
involve Smith.
>
> It was when Exeter took a kick for 3 points to give themselves
a 5 point lead. Exeter! Of all the teams who just don't kick
penalties, they chose to do so when it came to the crunch moment
against Quins on Saturday.
>
> That was the point at which I knew we were going to win the
game. :)
>
--- End Quote ---
Mark Evans & Michael Lynagh make this point in the ruck podcast.
#Post#: 71131--------------------------------------------------
Re: Brian Moore's Column
DIR By: Bolly-Quin
Date: June 29, 2021, 5:11 am
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--- Quote from: dinsdale link ---
>
> Mark Evans & Michael Lynagh make this point in the ruck
podcast.
>
--- End Quote ---
I think lots of people questioned it at the time - but the telly
commentators thought it was the best choice - and there were 15
minutes left and Quins were tiring/stalling at the time: easy to
think that we've got time to get back down here - I don't think
it is as easy a choice as many think.
And I suspect many people pointed out this event as the turning
point after the game had finished, although not on this board,
as we know Quins fight to the end, and beyond, with Buzz
Dombrandt...
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