Rugby
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Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Ugo Monye, 13 George Lowe, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Sam Smith, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Chris Robshaw (capt), 6 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 5 George Robson, 4 Olly Kohn, 3 James Johnston, 2 Rob Buchanan, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Aston Croall, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Will Collier, 19 Tomas Vallejos, 20 Tom Guest, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Ross Chisholm.
Leicester: 15 Geordan Murphy (capt), 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Manusamoa Tuilagi, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 George Skivington, 3 Dan Cole, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Logovi'i Mulipola, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 Graham Kitchener, 20 Steve Mafi, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Billy Twelvetrees, 23 Scott Hamilton.
Date: Saturday, April 21
Kick-off: 15:15 BST
Venue: Twickenham Stoop
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees: Greg Garner, Roy Maybank
Television match official: David Grashoff
The last time Quins faced a juggernaut forward pack was against Toulon, where they were turned inside out up-front and taken apart. This week their half-effective front-row of Marler and Johnston goes up against a serious scrummaging unit with Cole and Ayerza, which should tell. What will really make the difference is when Quins have to call on Lambert and Collier, while Leicester happily bring on Castro and Mulipola.
Leicester have taken 25pts from the last 5 games and are on a serious charge now, having ridded themselves of the call-ups and injuries that plagued them earlier. Not for the first time I think they would have cruised this league had they had something near to a full-strength team all season. Quins are still going well enough, but not looking nearly so impressive as Leicester.
It's not often I will be found backing against the top team in the league at home, but -2 on a team that should easily win the tight-five battle and has massive firepower all over the pitch seems too good to miss. Leicester want that home semi-final and they need to win this to keep that dream alive.
There are arguments to the contrary though, if anyone feels like pointing them out.
Replacements: 16 Aston Croall, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Will Collier, 19 Tomas Vallejos, 20 Tom Guest, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Rory Clegg, 23 Ross Chisholm.
Leicester: 15 Geordan Murphy (capt), 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Manusamoa Tuilagi, 12 Anthony Allen, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Julian Salvi, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 George Skivington, 3 Dan Cole, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Logovi'i Mulipola, 18 Martin Castrogiovanni, 19 Graham Kitchener, 20 Steve Mafi, 21 Sam Harrison, 22 Billy Twelvetrees, 23 Scott Hamilton.
Date: Saturday, April 21
Kick-off: 15:15 BST
Venue: Twickenham Stoop
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant referees: Greg Garner, Roy Maybank
Television match official: David Grashoff
The last time Quins faced a juggernaut forward pack was against Toulon, where they were turned inside out up-front and taken apart. This week their half-effective front-row of Marler and Johnston goes up against a serious scrummaging unit with Cole and Ayerza, which should tell. What will really make the difference is when Quins have to call on Lambert and Collier, while Leicester happily bring on Castro and Mulipola.
Leicester have taken 25pts from the last 5 games and are on a serious charge now, having ridded themselves of the call-ups and injuries that plagued them earlier. Not for the first time I think they would have cruised this league had they had something near to a full-strength team all season. Quins are still going well enough, but not looking nearly so impressive as Leicester.
It's not often I will be found backing against the top team in the league at home, but -2 on a team that should easily win the tight-five battle and has massive firepower all over the pitch seems too good to miss. Leicester want that home semi-final and they need to win this to keep that dream alive.
There are arguments to the contrary though, if anyone feels like pointing them out.
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Replies: 94
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If you fancy points then dont bother placing a bet here..better value everywhere with the books by the looks!
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All over Tigers 'ere, Quinns having already peaked this season as well. Also think the championship is Tigers to loose as they look a team apart of late, only potential banna being a fearless Chiefs team in a 1 off although they still gotta get past the saints tomorrow which may well be their undoing in a pressure situation.?
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Leicester have tended to struggle with the strangling sort of game that Sarries have played against them, but Sarries themselves are down on a bit of man power and an away semi-final would put them in trouble. Leicester clear favs for the title on current form. Would love to see Exeter go all the way, but it's a step up in class now.
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Quins are top of the table on merit, you don't get there at this stage of the season without deserving it. 6-10 is key for Quins and they are at full strength in those positions today. The first name to look for, of course, is Nick Evans who is without doubt in my mind the best 10 in the NH. Care has his detractors, but he is key to how Quins want to play and will look to speed game up wherever possible as they do not want to get drawn into an arm wrestle. Speaking of arm wrestles, they have a back row that often more than compensates for their shortcomings in the tight five and the set piece and in George Robson they arguably have an international quality lock. We've seen Australia remain competitive over the past ten years despite having nothing even closely resembling an international quality tight five. And Quins are at home.
That is the counter argument, but the fact remains that Leicester are on a tremendous run and have secured 25 points from their last five matches. They routed Saint at the Gardens last time out and will not be intimidated at all going to the Stoop. The benches should ultimately make the difference with Leicester able to call upon two international props in Mulipola and Castro. Leicester to pull clear in the last quarter. |
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on unders here..incredible value some absolute mugs taking almost evens on a line way higher than a high street bookie! its 13/8 over 44 with sids almost the same line here for just over evens now! then ya 4-5% comm!
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just hit evens!
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I would back overs if I could be sure it would stay dry all game. The trouble is it is pouring down at my house, about 60 miles west of Twickenham, and the weather tends to head that way.
Leicester rarely seem capable of going unders these days, they even nearly made 40pts in a mudbath against Gloucester earlier this year. Wouldn't be taking evens at 43.5pts though...... |
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esp at a 43.5 line RM..bills is 39.5!
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Plenty on Leicester then and a bit on overs.
Should be a cracking game here. About this time last year we got a 41-41 wasn't it.......... |
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Did not see that first scrum coming.
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Youngs gets away with moment of breathtaking stupidity.
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Always a bit iffy when the scrum comes in like that. Looks like Ayerza was being driven into his hooker and went upwards. Going to have to stop Johnston coming around the outside because the bloke weighs a ton.
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Has to be a yellow for Robshaw if this isn't a try.
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Certainly a pen, maybe even a penalty try anyway.
Hard to see it grounded though I would think. |
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Yes, must be a try.
0-5 after 6 mins |
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so easy for tigers that
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you just playing an advantage till they score??
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Wouldn't have had Ugo Monye down as a banker for a chip down the middle! Good reply from Quins.
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Monye's kick chasing has been really good this year.
Watch him give away a pen at some point though for laying on a ruck, then looking indignant. |
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Leicester offside from the restart.
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Or completely missing an easy tackle......
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Does Youngs have some sort of a brain deficit? You've clearly got a massive advantage at lineout time yet he opts for another ridiculous quick tap into any number of defenders.
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Looks like a premeditated ploy Dunc. Barnes does tend to pick up teams not retreating and Leicester's pace on the ball killed Northampton last week.
Not convinced about it though. |
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Fantastic restart again from Quins.
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Hell of a pace to this game. I would love to believe that all the Premiership games left this season will be like this...
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Well done Toby Flood, that was about as bad as you could possibly be. Massive gaps everywhere and he passes directly to Monye.
13-10 |
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Seems like Flood doesn't want to be outdone by Youngs in the bungalow stakes and throws the easiest seven to Quins they have had all season. Cracking game.
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well done white that was blantant!
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in super league ventham and ganson would have chosen to not see that!
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All goes wrong for Leicester very quickly. How it was a Quins pen in the first place after Easter sat on Allen I dont know, but thats a clear yellow.
16-10 |
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Why on earth do teams throw to the tail when defending their own line? See it time after time. Ridiculously stupid.
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easy
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Tom Croft now, good God.
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jesus, that guy in green was ****ed!
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Leicester's defending has been criminal so far. Croft falling over there.
Wish I had been braver on overs  |
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Thought overs was a good bet until I saw the weather forecast.
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wasps jus conceded again & now no BP with about 7mins to play...... some scrap next weekend
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