DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
ComeAllWithin (Harlequins Rugby)
HTML https://comeallwithin.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: ComeAllWithin Board
*****************************************************
#Post#: 142458--------------------------------------------------
Re: Where will Quins end up?
DIR By: poorfour
Date: September 23, 2025, 4:33 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: J Scott link ---
>
> I have to say that on current evidence it’s quite hard to make
a reasonable argument for these not to be true. Add in the first
3 fixtures which are all tough we could be looking at no wins
this season going into games vs resurgent Chiefs and Redbulls.
>
> So getting increasingly hard to be optimistic. I just hope a
good showing on Friday can lift the spirits a bit not just of
the supporters but give the players the mental lift that can
sometimes be the difference in winning or losing.
>
>
--- End Quote ---
I've not watched the preseason games, but one possibility that
would be consistent with the overall pattern of the games is
that Quins have gone deep in preseason conditioning knowing that
it's a hard run of games up first with a significant number of
players unavailable.
#Post#: 142459--------------------------------------------------
Re: Where will Quins end up?
DIR By: MaidstoneQuin
Date: September 23, 2025, 4:38 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> That's a fair analysis. The key question is why we are so much
more vulnerable and how we refresh our style of play. Wilson's
much maligned plan seemed to have three major components. One
was to give the academy players more game time so that they
would be better able to step up when called upon. One was to
recruit Gilmore and improve the defence (which was working until
injuries started to build up). The third was then to focus on
attack - which it was implied would be the focus for this year.
>
> Presumably there was also a plan to recruit in areas where we
didn't have academy players coming through in the right time
frame - which is what we seem to have done this summer, while
trusting that one or more of Waghorn, Bradley, Kerr and Hyde
would step up in the centres. (Not unreasonable given Waghorn
and Kerr won the JRWC in a year when England weren't expecting
it). We've strengthened at lock (where historically we have had
some of our most severe injury crises), loosehead (where Marler
left a big hole at backup level), tighthead (where we have
decent academy prospects, which feels a little like when we
brought Bomb in to develop Sinck and Collier - I wonder if we're
looking at Williams as a successor if Jones is lured by the
siren call of the WRU).
>
> A lot of that now seems to be in place and it's interesting
how quickly Quins moved to put Gilmore in the senior coach role
following Wilson's departure (sadly scotching my hopes of
getting Mitchell for next season - hey ho). It suggests that the
powers that be felt the direction of travel was right overall. I
guess time will tell.
>
--- End Quote ---
The pack on paper this season should be much better. I hope we
give more game time to CCS as I think if we don't give him some
worth he certainly will leave for pastures new once contract is
up. I'd be happy alternating Evans and Kenningham at 7 for
certain games.
If the pack performance doesn't improve too much (as thats where
it creates the platform for our backs, who last season looked
blunt and had few ideas bar a few marcus magic moments) then it
will certainly leave little room to defend a coaching clear out.
Petti and Treadwell should be a good engine room behind Baxter,
Turner and Williams (I think Turner is more dynamic and Williams
should be a better starting option than an impact sub)
#Post#: 142460--------------------------------------------------
Re: Where will Quins end up?
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: September 23, 2025, 4:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> I've not watched the preseason games, but one possibility that
would be consistent with the overall pattern of the games is
that Quins have gone deep in preseason conditioning knowing that
it's a hard run of games up first with a significant number of
players unavailable.
>
--- End Quote ---
Perhaps. That would be a good interpretation. At some point they
have to practice catching the ball, though.
#Post#: 142461--------------------------------------------------
Re: Where will Quins end up?
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: September 23, 2025, 4:50 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: SiB link ---
>
> Top 6
> Look at the squad with all the internationals back
>
>
>
> Yeah I know it’s the hope that does you in
>
--- End Quote ---
The problem is that we seem to have recruited heavily from
Argentinian players who won't be available until it's time for
them to head off for the Autumn internationals again. We could
be without core parts of our squad for the first big chunk of
fixtures. At least we didn't have many Lions so they'll be back
by week 3.
#Post#: 142462--------------------------------------------------
Re: Where will Quins end up?
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: September 23, 2025, 4:54 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
> Have we not recruited well? That bit jumped out at me as being
a little bit unfair. Maybe Watson is unfamiliar with the
Argentinians.
>
--- End Quote ---
The problem there is availability. They still have weeks of the
Rugby Championship to play, then mandatory rest, then the Autumn
internationals... Is it good recruitment to get players who
won't be available for a good chunk of the season?
#Post#: 142463--------------------------------------------------
Re: Where will Quins end up?
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: September 23, 2025, 5:23 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: FrostAndFire link ---
>
> The problem there is availability. They still have weeks of
the Rugby Championship to play, then mandatory rest, then the
Autumn internationals... Is it good recruitment to get players
who won't be available for a good chunk of the season?
>
--- End Quote ---
Swings and roundabouts, really. The number of good players you
can get who aren't involved either with home nations games or
rugby championship sides is pretty small, and at least these
guys are available for the rest of the season after that (unlike
the England boys). You basically have to find international
quality players who aren't playing internationals, which is a
tough ask!
The mandatory rest periods for non-English players practically
don't exist I thought?
#Post#: 142464--------------------------------------------------
Re: Where will Quins end up?
DIR By: Yareet
Date: September 23, 2025, 6:13 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
> Swings and roundabouts, really. The number of good players you
can get who aren't involved either with home nations games or
rugby championship sides is pretty small, and at least these
guys are available for the rest of the season after that (unlike
the England boys). You basically have to find international
quality players who aren't playing internationals, which is a
tough ask!
>
> The mandatory rest periods for non-English players practically
don't exist I thought?
>
--- End Quote ---
I think the RPA has successfully lobbied for rest periods to
include everyone Should mean Bath are without both Russell and
Carreras.
#Post#: 142465--------------------------------------------------
Re: Where will Quins end up?
DIR By: Banstead Quin
Date: September 23, 2025, 6:47 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Where we'll get the boost is in the 2nd half of the season, when
6N players are away and resting, our Argentinians will be
training with the rest of the squad and available for all
fixtures, injuries aside.
#Post#: 142470--------------------------------------------------
Re: Where will Quins end up?
DIR By: J Scott
Date: September 23, 2025, 10:13 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> I've not watched the preseason games, but one possibility that
would be consistent with the overall pattern of the games is
that Quins have gone deep in preseason conditioning knowing that
it's a hard run of games up first with a significant number of
players unavailable.
>
--- End Quote ---
I’ve 3 of the 4 Castre was always a tough ask due to the sides
picked and points in our pre season, Benetton was very
disappointing and Newcastle was odd I think the whole Redbull
take over gave them an emotional edge and but we were so
predictable in attack it flattered their defence. I didn’t see
the Tigers but am disappointed given the squads picked and home
advantage.
I hope we’re going to be a bit like England at last RWC and come
good after an awful preseason.
#Post#: 142471--------------------------------------------------
Re: Where will Quins end up?
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: September 23, 2025, 10:35 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: J Scott link ---
>
> I’ve 3 of the 4 Castre was always a tough ask due to the sides
picked and points in our pre season, Benetton was very
disappointing and Newcastle was odd I think the whole Redbull
take over gave them an emotional edge and but we were so
predictable in attack it flattered their defence. I didn’t see
the Tigers but am disappointed given the squads picked and home
advantage.
>
> I hope we’re going to be a bit like England at last RWC and
come good after an awful preseason.
>
--- End Quote ---
For me, it was the Tigers one that made me feel most depressed.
We seemed to be getting worse as the preseason went on. We
weren't bad against a better Castre, and Newcastle picked a
stronger team than we did. But Tigers, we should have won that,
and handily.
*****************************************************
Page 7 of 18
DIR Previous Page
DIR Next Page