Aviva Premiership 2016/17

[schmalex]

Sadly, Quins aren't a great yardstick currently, though.

For me, I see Wasps & Sarries in the final, with Sarries taking the spoils again.

[Kermit power]

schmalex said:

Sadly, Quins aren't a great yardstick currently, though.

Indeed they're not.

Surely we have to find an actual proper Director of Rugby for next season???

There were some great times under O'Shea, but over his last season or two, it was pretty clear that other sides had sussed that approach, so his departure for Italy was probably the right thing at the right time for both parties, but what on earth possessed the board to think that the right answer was to appoint the organ grinder's monkey to take over after having him playing second fiddle for 15 years?

If he'd had any ambition or capability to be a half decent DOR, surely he would've left long ago to pursue such an opportunity.

Is Mike Ford still looking for a job?

[Kermit power]

Team A have home advantage and their starting XV includes 8 current and 2 former internationals with 459 caps between them, all for IRB ranked top 8 nations.

Team B have 111 caps from 6 players, and 29 of those were by an Italian.

Which team would you expect to win?

Then consider that Team A is Quins and Team B is Exeter as announced for tomorrow evening. Now which team would you expect to win?

I can't decide if it's just the utter genius of Rob Baxter, the atrociousness of John "Mr Creosote" Kingston, or a combination of the two, but can you imagine these sorts of stats in any other sport?

[JonChalk]

Well......... Quins have come out on fire, so far!!

Good game to 1/2 hour in.

[Kermit power]

JonChalk said:

Well......... Quins have come out on fire, so far!!

Good game to 1/2 hour in.

Sadly not the desired result from a Quins perspective, and a really, really undeserved scoreline. They were on top for much of the game before conceding three tries off kick & chase.

There was one particularly frustrating moment in the second half where Quins were about 20 yards out and one of the Exeter players knocked the ball on from the base of the ruck, making it look as though Care had fumbled it. The ball ended up back about 20 yards out at the other end, and when Quins were awarded a penalty there, they reran the incident on the big screen and Barnes just watched it and then ignored it.

It would be interesting to know from anyone who watched it on TV what was said about the incident?

[JonChalk]

Kermit power said:

It would be interesting to know from anyone who watched it on TV what was said about the incident?

Not a lot from memory, Kermit.

Quins tailed off mightily in last 20 minutes; up until then.........enjoyed watching as a neutral.

[Kermit power]

JonChalk said:

Kermit power said:

It would be interesting to know from anyone who watched it on TV what was said about the incident?

Not a lot from memory, Kermit.

Quins tailed off mightily in last 20 minutes; up until then.........enjoyed watching as a neutral.

It didn't feel like that watching it at the ground. Just felt like all the luck of the kicks suddenly went Exeter's way...

[JonChalk]

So conflicted.

Want Saints to lose without a BP as they're only a point above us.

But........don't want Saracens to win either. And a draw gives Saints points.

:-(

[Matt172]

JonChalk said:

So conflicted.

Want Saints to lose without a BP as they're only a point above us.

But........don't want Saracens to win either. And a draw gives Saints points.

:-(

Well we managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. I have no idea what is going on with us at the moment if we only had to play 70 mins we'd be fantastic.
I can see 6th going down to our last game against you

[iwantagta]

Just watched the Northampton Sarries game.
Another great game.
Felt reallllly dirty cheering for Sarries!
(Bath fan - need to secure 6th - that should do it for us!)
Agree - dunno how Northampton lost that though, thry were all over them for large parts.

Quins fans - would you rather a rubbish end of season & missing out on the top six (so its more likely Kingston gets the boot) OR to get into the top 6 for the longer term good?

[Kermit power]

Matt172 said:

Well we managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. I have no idea what is going on with us at the moment if we only had to play 70 mins we'd be fantastic.
I can see 6th going down to our last game against you

I still wouldn't rule Gloucester out either!

[Kermit power]

iwantagta said:

Quins fans - would you rather a rubbish end of season & missing out on the top six (so its more likely Kingston gets the boot) OR to get into the top 6 for the longer term good?

I don't think Kingston will get the boot. He's been at the club for over 15 years, and they just don't strike me as a club that would cut him out this quickly. If they were, I don't think they would've given him the job in the first place.

I do also think it's very true that the Quins fans as a whole care less about winning than about how they play the game, so even if every game of the season was a carbon copy of the Exeter match, I'm not sure he wouldn't be given the chance to bring them back up from relegation!

Out of interest, what's the most teams we can have in next year's Champions' Cup? I know we get 7 if one of the English clubs wins the Challenge Cup, but do we get an eighth if one of them also wins this year's Champions' Cup?

[JonChalk]

Kermit power said:

Matt172 said:

Well we managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. I have no idea what is going on with us at the moment if we only had to play 70 mins we'd be fantastic.
I can see 6th going down to our last game against you

I still wouldn't rule Gloucester out either!

Have you seen how many games we've won? 3 less wins & somehow only 2 points off Saints, 1 off Quins; we'll find a way to bottle it at the last minute, unless we stop giving away penalties like confetti at a wedding.

[iwantagta]

Kermit power said:

Out of interest, what's the most teams we can have in next year's Champions' Cup? I know we get 7 if one of the English clubs wins the Challenge Cup, but do we get an eighth if one of them also wins this year's Champions' Cup?

In short I dont think you are right about the winner automatically getting in - It looks a lot more complex than that this season with playoffs;

http://www.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychampionscup/...

Basically a 4 way tussle between 7th in England, 7th in France & 8th/9th in the pro 12.

[CardinalFang]

Sad news Kermit Power - Nick Evans to retire at the end of the season.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39629569

Have been lucky enough to get to a few of Quins moments over the last 15 years or so - Bloodgate, Premiership final etc but "those" 10 minutes & "that" drop goal against Stade brings a lump to my throat even now...Thought I'd permanently damaged my vocal chords at the time.

Fingers crossed he completes his badges (I think he's coaching at Wimbledon RUFC??) & stays on.

[Kermit power]

CardinalFang said:

Sad news Kermit Power - Nick Evans to retire at the end of the season.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39629569

Have been lucky enough to get to a few of Quins moments over the last 15 years or so - Bloodgate, Premiership final etc but "those" 10 minutes & "that" drop goal against Stade brings a lump to my throat even now...Thought I'd permanently damaged my vocal chords at the time.

Fingers crossed he completes his badges (I think he's coaching at Wimbledon RUFC??) & stays on.

Sad news indeed, but not a surprise to anyone, I don't think, given just how much of this year he's spent injured.

It is definitely a worry though. Tim Swiel can be very good, and has lots of potential, but he can very definitely have his off games as well. Ruaridh Jackson, on the other hand, has been completely underwhelming every time I've seen him play! He's supposed to be an international 10, but throughout his career, he has averaged fewer than 5 points per match. Evans, by comparison, has scored over 10 per match.

[JonChalk]

Well, we're without investment next year then:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39633779

[Kermit power]

JonChalk said:

Well, we're without investment next year then:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39633779

It does seem slightly dodgy that he'd have had major stakes in two clubs who could well play each other in European competition.

[Vocal Minority]

Kermit power said:

I don't think Kingston will get the boot. He's been at the club for over 15 years, and they just don't strike me as a club that would cut him out this quickly. If they were, I don't think they would've given him the job in the first place.

Do what Worcester did, they started the season without a DOR, and sort of had a weird committee with the head coach and performance director. I think there were chemistry issues between the men, and the other parts of the roll were a bridge too far for Carl Hogg (who was man enough to admit it and ask for help).

Gary Gold came in as DOR, Carl Hogg went back to being 'just' a head coach and the team is just night and day from the shambles that got beaten by 14 men at Bristol.

There is another way.

Sad to see Nick Evans retiring - but it is his 954th birthday coming up! He tried once already didn't he and it didn't quite work? Been an amazing player for Quins - a very loyal servant

[Smollet]

Kermit power said:

CardinalFang said:

Sad news Kermit Power - Nick Evans to retire at the end of the season.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39629569

Have been lucky enough to get to a few of Quins moments over the last 15 years or so - Bloodgate, Premiership final etc but "those" 10 minutes & "that" drop goal against Stade brings a lump to my throat even now...Thought I'd permanently damaged my vocal chords at the time.

Fingers crossed he completes his badges (I think he's coaching at Wimbledon RUFC??) & stays on.

Sad news indeed, but not a surprise to anyone, I don't think, given just how much of this year he's spent injured.

It is definitely a worry though. Tim Swiel can be very good, and has lots of potential, but he can very definitely have his off games as well. Ruaridh Jackson, on the other hand, has been completely underwhelming every time I've seen him play! He's supposed to be an international 10, but throughout his career, he has averaged fewer than 5 points per match. Evans, by comparison, has scored over 10 per match.

He's been a great asset to Quins and will be missed as a player. Swiel has promise as does the Saffer joining but be thankful Botica is no longer involved.