Racing vs Quins - Sunday 3.15pm

[Puja]

Harlequins: David; Murley, Marchant, Esterhuizen, Morris; Smith, Care; Marler, Walker, Louw, Lewies, Herbst, Wallace, Evans, Dombrandt (capt).

Replacements: Head, Els, Kerrod, Hammond, Lawday, Gjaltema, Beard, Edwards.

Racing 92: Gelant; Taofifenua, Saili, Fickou, Imhoff; Russell, Le Garrec; Gogichashvili, Chat, Gomes Sa, Woki, Palu, Diallo, Chouzenoux, Baudonne.

Replacements: Narisia, Ben Arous, Nyakane, Hemery, Kamikamica, Gibert, Klemenczak, Spring.

[Puja]

Smith just casually returning straight into the team for an away game at La Defense. It'll certainly be a solid test of whether he's ready to jump back in for England!

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

I hope that means he’s ready, rather than just not trusting Edwards (or Gjaltema) or trying to give him a shot to impress Borthwick.

Lewies actually running out on to the field will be quite an odd sight. Let’s hope we’ve not rushed him either. Morris back in, in a game like, is interesting but a solid enough player. I don’t get why we keep leaving Lawday on the bench while we’re struggling for fit flankers.

[fivepointer]

Quins have missed Smith. Great to see him back in the side.

[Puja]

I hope that means he’s ready, rather than just not trusting Edwards (or Gjaltema) or trying to give him a shot to impress Borthwick.

Lewies actually running out on to the field will be quite an odd sight. Let’s hope we’ve not rushed him either. Morris back in, in a game like, is interesting but a solid enough player. I don’t get why we keep leaving Lawday on the bench while we’re struggling for fit flankers.

I'd imagine that, if it wasn't the situation that it is, he'd probably be starting from the bench. Hopefully he's at least close to ready.

That back row selection is weird - I'd take Lawday over 2023!Wallace every day of the week.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Real attritional, test-match sort of stuff so far.

[Mr Mwenda]

Got it on in the other room and all I hear is Healey and the other bloke wittering on about pop music.

[Mikey Brown]

Got it on in the other room and all I hear is Healey and the other bloke wittering on about pop music.

There’s been an awful lot of scrum time…

[stepsider]

Morris try disallowed - poor ref call

[Timbo]

Morris try disallowed - poor ref call

Poor weekend for officials.

[FKAS]

Morris try disallowed - poor ref call

I thought that initially but the replays in studio seemed to look more like TMO made a fair call.

Really poor from Quins for the Racing second try soon after.

[Mr Mwenda]

And the third! Wish we had more replays, seemed far too easy but didn't have time to spot the defensive error.

[Mikey Brown]

Well this is pretty painful viewing. Got a try back now, but hardly looked like a cohesive unit so far.

[stepsider]

Austin Healey comments not helpful

[Mikey Brown]

Show-pony bullshit from Smith.

[Mr Mwenda]

Morris not having a great afternoon....

[stepsider]

That's a mild understatement!

[Mikey Brown]

Yep, reassessing my ‘surprising but solid’ appraisal of his selection. I thought Beard would be ahead, even with Bassett, Lynagh and Green out.

Not enjoying Andrew Brace today.

[Mr Mwenda]

Yes, seems to be a case of Brace! Brace! Brace! Homer-tendency today.

Great seeing quins in full flight.

[Mikey Brown]

I guess we’ll have a terrible new ‘x likes this post’ gif to look forward to.

[Mr Mwenda]

Come on quins, don't fuck this up now.

[Mikey Brown]

Fucking hell.

[Mr Mwenda]

Crazy stupid when the ref has been going against you all game....

[Mr Mwenda]

Care packed down at blindside there. What was that about?

[Mikey Brown]

Painful.

I don’t know what to say about Brace. That was rough, but we had the opportunities at the end there and didn’t manage to take them.