RugbyRebels

Wasps going for the big centre pairing:

15 Rob Miller (121)
14 Zach Kibirige (44)
13 Paolo Odogwu (20)
12 Malakai Fekitoa (34)
11 Josh Bassett (145)
10 Jacob Umaga (45)
9 Dan Robson (132)
1 Tom West (50)
2 Tommy Taylor (88)
3 Kieran Brookes (56)
4 Will Rowlands (108)
5 James Gaskell (136)
6 Brad Shields (c) (48)
7 Thomas Young (136)
8 Tom Willis (37)


Replacements
16 Gabriel Oghre (41)
17 Simon McIntyre (179)
18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen (40)
19 Tim Cardall (26)
20 Ben Morris (41)
21 Will Porter (30)
22 Charlie Atkinson (11)
23 Michael Le Bourgeois (55)



Harlequins Starting XV
1. Joe Marler (219)
2. Scott Baldwin (36)
3. Wilco Louw (22)
4. Matt Symons (57)
5. Stephan Lewies (29) - Captain
6. Tom Lawday (33)
7. Jack Kenningham (7)
8. Alex Dombrandt (70)
9. Danny Care (300)
10. Marcus Smith (104)
11. Cadan Murley (45)
12. Luke Northmore (22)
13. Joe Marchant (106)
14. Tyrone Green (15)
15. Mike Brown (350)

Impact Players
16. Joe Gray (167)
17. Santiagio Garcia Botta (32)
18. Will Collier (182)
19. Dino Lamb (41)
20. Archie White (40)
21. Martin Landajo (30)
22. James Lang (78)
23. Paul Lasike (30)


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Definitely a case of "Your man! And again!" in the centres from Wasps. Though Lasike and Lang could balance that out if they come on at 12 and 13!.

should be a cracker, midfield fascinating. Fekitoa has looked a bit off the pace to me.

Fekitoa has just been trying too hard the past few weeks. That centre partnership will be abrasive. But if Wasps can get Odogwu on an outside arc it will play havoc with a defence given the amount of pace in the back three.

Marchant is a top class defender so I’m less worried about the outside arc. Northmore has been great for us this season but is definitely better at 13, so I’m more concerned about him getting a bit caught our defensively at 12.

Lewies being back is a big boost for us, but losing Evans and Esterhuizen for the run in is going to hurt.

Hard to call, but I can see Wasps turning us over.

Peej wrote:Fekitoa has just been trying too hard the past few weeks. That centre partnership will be abrasive. But if Wasps can get Odogwu on an outside arc it will play havoc with a defence given the amount of pace in the back three.

He's looked out of form tbh, I'm a big fan too.

I'm so sick of these stupid fucking "intentional knock on" decisions.

Ominous for Quins though. Wasps look fired up.

Barnes trying to make up for the previous knock on decision? Never seen someone get the yellow card despite the try being scored.

Really fun game.

Yep. Incredibly loose though. Healey in rugby mode rather than banter mode is nice too.

Really like Kenningham. His clearout work is great. Care is absolutely all over the place today, and not in a good way.

Why does Umaga want to run it from his 22 in the 41st minute and 2 points ahead?

Mikey Brown wrote:Why does Umaga want to run it from his 22 in the 41st minute and 2 points ahead?

Because he saw an opportunity? I really don't have an issue with him going for it, just wish he'd been more aware of the guy behind him, he'll keep learning.

Well, yeah. I guess he thought Green was just sprinting off in to the tunnel.

Mikey Brown wrote:Well, yeah. I guess he thought Green was just sprinting off in to the tunnel.

He'd stepped him, and clearly thought he had him for pace. In fairness, it was a real clip of the heel tap tackle, another couple of inches and he's clear.

Raggs wrote:Barnes trying to make up for the previous knock on decision? Never seen someone get the yellow card despite the try being scored.

Do you not agree with it, though?

Oakboy wrote:

Raggs wrote:Barnes trying to make up for the previous knock on decision? Never seen someone get the yellow card despite the try being scored.

Do you not agree with it, though?

Not sure how I feel. If he'd have blown the whistle immediately, it'd have been a pen try and yellow I guess. If it becomes the norm, no problem, but if not, it just seems a bit out there.

More of the same this half then.

Oh... shit.

Accidentally trying to get him on the chest, and then really accidentally getting it wrong?

I remember the days when analysts/co-commentators didn’t do so for the teams they played for. Dallaglio reminds me why it was a good idea.

Healey’s gibberish reminds me why he shouldn’t co-commentate on any match.

What a ridiculous game.

Amazing game. I love summer rugby.

Amazing game. Smith getting all the praise (which I don't begrudge!), but I thought a few others put in some big performances, notably Marchant. I think kenningham also impressed, and in lots of other games would have got the man of the match with that performance.

Wasps...they have just been the kings of giving games away this season. Beginning of the season I would have been really surprised that they wouldn't reach the playoffs, but what a fall.

Great game for the neutral.
Smith was outstanding. Robson likewise for Wasps who really should have sown that game up. Quins deserve credit for the way they kept in the game and effectively nicked it at the end.
Liked the work of Kenningham.
Dallaglio's one eyed biased commentary was an embarrassment. He was excruciatingly bad.

fivepointer wrote:Great game for the neutral.
Smith was outstanding. Robson likewise for Wasps who really should have sown that game up. Quins deserve credit for the way they kept in the game and effectively nicked it at the end.
Liked the work of Kenningham.
Dallaglio's one eyed biased commentary was an embarrassment. He was excruciatingly bad.

I agree with every word of that.

Overall though, as a fan of several sports, I think the minute-to-minute of that was exceptional. As pure entertainment, it left club football and international rugby way behind. I also think that Wayne Barnes is a gifted referee. We won't agree with him 100% (on forward passes and several other issues) but it is no coincidence that the best matches have the best refs.