Aviva Premiership 2016/17

[Kermit power]

James Drake said:

Kermit power said:

What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon?

I dunno, watching Tigers beat Saints from comfort of my sofa with a beer in hand is not bad at all. In all seriousness, what a match!

That was a handy result for Quins as well, looking at who will finish in the top six.

It looks quite good for Quins at the moment in theory, but given that both they and Northampton play Wasps, Exeter and Sarries as their last three games of the season, I wouldn't be totally surprised is Gloucester sneak it!

[Kermit power]

iwantagta said:

Bath will struggle to get top 6 if they dont start finding some form.
Abysmal today. Ford for Burns looks like a decent swap now considering how both played this weekend!
Painful lack of control today but Sarries were back to their normal selves again.

Agree the Northampton Vs Leic game was great for the neutral!

I reckon they're probably safe, not least because Saints and Quins both have to play Sarries, Wasps, Exeter and each other on the run in!

[Kermit power]

There's a lot to be said for playing rugby on dry pitches, isn't there! Nine tries in total between Wasps & Saints!

The neutral in me felt Saints really deserved to win, but the Quins fan in me is grateful to Wasps for that 81st minute try!

[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?

[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?

[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...

[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?

[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.

[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.

[Kermit power]

JonChalk said:

What has Danny Care done to his hair?

Doing a very good Donald Trump impression!

We were slightly concerned when he failed his Hair Injury Assessment!

Thankfully Nev did us proud in his last home game! A lot of sore hands from the standing ovation.

[Kermit power]

For those who watched it on TV, why did Barnes take Quins back 10 twice? I can't remember the last time I saw that happen once in a Premiership match, let alone twice!

[Kermit power]

Derek Smith said:

Not explained I think.

There was some 'interesting' play last night. The gaps that were left would have generated comment from our team coach at level 5.

Great game to watch though. I always knew that Wasps would make a comeback and take the match and I was expecting the turn around right up until 10 mins to go. Two yellows didn't help. It seemed that Wasps monopolised possession in the first half and came into the break behind. That took genius I thought.

The crowd seemed to enjoy it.

I think you meant to say that QUINS monopolised possession in the first half?

[Kermit power]

Smollet said:

Yes it was. Wasps have fallen off the pace of late so I expect a Chiefs/Sarries final. Should be a cracker.

Probably right, although it's interesting how much there still is to play for this late in the season!

Wasps, Chiefs & Sarries all in the semis, but home advantage still to be determined.

Leicester probably in the semis, but could still be beaten to it by Bath if Worcester pull a big performance out of the bag.

Quins, Saints and even - mathematically - Gloucester still in the running for the final Champions' Cup place.

It's only the bottom four without anything but pride to play for...

[Kermit power]

Just watching Bath vs Gloucester and BT Sport have just put up next Saturday's televised games (which were still TBC) as Sarries vs Wasps and Saints vs Quins.

[Kermit power]

iwantagta said:

If we had played like that all season we would have been easily top 4!
We lost to Bristol FFS!!!
Still - at least secured Champions Cup and still an outside chance of the top 4.
Bodes well for post Ford era.

The same could be said for Quins playing top of the table Wasps though, so don't feel too frustrated!

[Kermit power]

GET IN QUINS!!!

Never has a loss felt so wonderful!

Mind you, it would be nice to know that Picamoles (I think), was ok? He looked like he was out cold in the last phase of play, and still being treated when everyone else was walking around shaking hands.

[Kermit power]

Smollet said:

My wish for a Chiefs/Sarries final is going to happen.

Aren't they playing each other in the semi?

I reckon it'll be a Wasps vs Chiefs final, and I reckon Exeter will actually take it.