- Thu Oct 14, 2021 8:48 pm
#36920
I’ll be totally honest: I was thrilled when I saw this line up. We’re getting there. That doesn’t mean I expect us to win, but I do like the fibre of our fabric as the saying goes.
I was toying with starting a Devil’s avocado thread on how we’re going so far but maybe it’s best all in here. The fact is we’ve won 1 of our last 6 competitive outings across this season and last. That’s not great, to state the obvious. Bristol are similarly poor. Is there a risk our zenith was the past two seasons, with the first covid-affected one coming just when we were building into an unstoppable force & taking our momentum away, then falling just short last season? I don’t think so, however others don’t stand still and the likes of Leicester have stated well with new direction, while Irish may be a beneficiary of no relegation and playing without fear for 80 minutes.
What is self-evident is how thinly we’ve been stretched so far, and this explains why I reacted the way I did to the squad announcement. By no means do I wish to belittle Sam Dugdale, however the absence of the Curry twins in particular has been huge in our ability to win turnover ball. (I know Ben started the first two games but his HIA in each had a marked impact on the games. To all intents and purposes we’ve barely seen him). With anything approaching our full back row complement, Dugdale is well down the order. The same goes for Rouban Birch at lock. It’d be brilliant if they played themselves higher up the pecking order, others more knowledgable than me will know if that’s possible.
Where does all this fit with the Quins game? Well, granted we have no Faf or AJ, though we all know Raffi’s talent. Poyntonshark made the most pertinent comment for me about not worrying over individual names on the Quins team sheet. In the last four fixtures they’ve beaten us once, and those of us who watched the game at the Stoop on tv last season will recall the 10/15min spell where we threw the game away when the rest of it was tight or even us on top. They’re very talented. Perhaps their decision to cut contact in training to minimal levels is giving them a fitness advantage on top of their undoubted skill. However, we’re pretty good now at ignoring reputations. We did it to Bristol away last season & stifled them. We gave Exeter a huge fright at the back end of last season and without the injuries to AJ & Cam Neild, might’ve gone one step further.
I don’t expect us to win, but I think we’ve got a decent chance with our depth returning. Light in the backs? Maybe. Or a chance for Wilko and Curtis to show that they’ve got skills too. Luke James is looking hungry. I’ll raise the roof by myself if Denny gets a try tomorrow. If Marland is rested, I’m fine with that because Byron and Denny are plenty good enough. Double du Preez back in the pack at the AJB? Can’t wait. Tom Curry uncaged after his rest? Imagine the energy he’s going to bring.
Anyway, apologies for the long-winded ramble. I’m really looking forward to it tomorrow night.