Autumn International Preview - England v New Zealand

I've had every reason to be happy over the last week.  England picked up a win, I've moved to a lovely new city, work is good and the weather has been clear and sunny for the most part – happy days indeed.  But there is a dark cloud moving rapidly closer on the horizon, and I'm not talking about my first council tax bill.  No, the All Blacks have landed in London under the banner of 'the most dominant team in the history of the world' and are licking their lips as the prospect of gaining revenge against an England side who administered them a thorough and entirely surprising spanking at Twickenham last year.  Is the reference to dominance a sign of arrogance?  No, it's realism.  It's expectation.  It's world-class performance, time and again.

On paper, England have every right to be nervous going into this game.  Through injury, they have been shorn of their two most potent attacking weapons – Alex Corbisiero and Manu Tuilagi.  Both men were instrumental in their 38 – 21 win last year, with Corbisiero and Dan Cole dominating their opposite numbers at scrum time and Tuilagi causing chaos for Dan Carter and co in the backline.  The absence of those 2 British & Irish Lions, plus 3 others in the shapes of Mako Vunipola, Tom Croft and Brad Barritt, have severely tested England's resources.

England themselves have not been severely tested this autumn.  Sure, the Australia game was close but they looked comfortable throughout, and the same could be said for their display against the Pumas.  In both games, the men in white have put together a 40 minute showing of semi-coherent rugby, combined with another half of dour performance that makes your average paint-drying competition look like a JJ Abrams Epic.  A large part of that mediocrity, to be fair, has been limited to the backline (with the exception of the industrious Mike Brown) which has appeared for the large part as threatening as Mother Theresa.  The prime example for this average-ness is Joel Tomkins, although it is perhaps unfair to single one person out.  He's not powerful enough to break tackles, he's not quick enough to get around them, and he doesn't have the feet to bamboozle them.  Simply put, he is not a threat.  He is of course not helped by some listless drifting by Owen Farrell and Billy Twelvetrees and occasional indecisiveness from Lee Dickson, but if England are to stand a chance against the World Champions they will need to go back to basics and run hard, straight running lines to fix defenders.

New Zealand, on the other hand, have no such problems out wide, with the only area of question being Ben Smith filling the 13 shirt when he is usually a full back or wing.  But even that transition seems to have been seamless.  They're coming off a fairly handy record of played 33, won 31, drawn 1 and lost 1.  The conveyor of quality All Black sides and players continues to roll, but the dominance of this particular outfit cannot be underestimated.  Take a look at their game at Ellis Park against South Africa in the Rugby Championship.  South Africa played stupendously well – relentlessly physical and aggressive, fast and clinical – and yet the All Blacks still managed to raise the game to the point where they won one of the best matches I've ever seen fairly comfortably.  No other side could even have come close to South Africa that day.

So how are an injury ravaged and apparently uninspired England team to take on 'the most dominant team in the history of the world'?  I think it's time to revert to type.  Don't get wrong, I'd love to see the hosts chucking the ball wide and into space at the weekend, but the sad truth is that they don't have the players to worry the Kiwis, especially with Marland Yarde and Christian Wade injured, and Kyle Eastmond strangely ignored.  What England do have, though, is a damned fine pack that, on their day, can match and even bully anyone.  With Robshaw, Wood and Launchbury the workhorses, and Vunipola, Lawes and Hartley the tough ball carriers, England can physically dominate sides when in the right frame of mind.  And with the return of Dan Cole, a man who has repeatedly caused problems for Tony Woodcock, they may have half an eye on getting on top in the set piece too.  Saturday is a day for physicality, aggression, scrummaging, and intelligent kicking – not for trying to be flash.  Dominate up front, and there may just be a glimmer of a chance.

So when the All Blacks line up for their haka, the most dominant team in the world will be marking Twickenham as their turf.  I'd love to see the England pack walk up to the halfway and let them know they will not be moved.  Because we are in the calm before the storm right now – and the All Blacks will be desperate to show that lightening doesn't strike twice.

England Team News

Stuart Lancaster has made just one change to the side that put away Argentina last week.  British and Irish Lion Dan Cole starts at tight-head prop in place of David Wilson, who drops to the bench.  Loose-head prop Joe Marler is fit again after suffering concussion, while hooker Dylan Hartley wins his 50th cap after seeing off the challenge of Tom Youngs.   Wasps prop Matt Mullan is among the replacements, and could win his second cap, while Ben Youngs returns for Danny Care as the replacement scrum-half.   Only seven of the team started the surprise 38-21 win over the All Blacks at Twickenham in December last year.

Starting Line-up: Mike Brown; Chris Ashton, Joel Tomkins, Billy Twelvetrees, Ben Foden; Owen Farrell, Lee Dickson; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole; Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes; Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw (captain), Billy Vunipola

Subs: Tom Youngs, Matt Mullan, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Ben Morgan, Ben Youngs, Toby Flood, Alex Goode

Key Player

Dan Cole.  He may resemble Victor Meldrew on steroids, but there's a reason that Dan Cole is one of England's most experienced players, despite only making his debut in 2010.  An increasingly powerful presence in the set piece and a jackal over the ball at ruck time, he's become the cornerstone of England's pack to the point where Lancaster realised he's becoming over reliant on the Tigers man.  He's been in impressive scrummaging form this season after taking a couple of games to get to grips with the new rules, and in fact had the upper hand on fellow Lion Alex Corbisiero when Leicester and Northampton met earlier this year. Key to Saturday, however, is that Cole has generally always been on top whenever he has met loosehead Tony Woodcock previously.  That battle will be absolutely crucial if England are to have a hope in hell of winning this game.  Deprive the All Blacks of set piece ball and, provided you don't kick loosely to Israel Dagg and co at the back, then you shut their threat down at source.

New Zealand Team News

Fly-half Dan Carter will become the fifth All Black to win 100 caps after being named in the New Zealand starting XV to face England on Saturday.  The 31-year-old, who made his Test debut in 2003, is the world's leading Test points scorer with 1435.  He follows Richie McCaw, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock and Mils Muliaina in reaching 100 caps for the All Blacks.  Winger Julian Savea comes in to face England, the only change from the team that beat France 26-19 last weekend.   Savea missed that victory with illness but returns on the left wing, with Charles Piutau switching to the right and Cory Jane, who started his first Test of the year in Paris after a knee injury, dropping out of the match-day squad.  Among the replacements, lock Luke Romano comes in for back-rower Sam Cane to strengthen the All Blacks' second-row options.

Starting Line-up:  Israel Dagg; Charles Piutau, Ben Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea; Dan Carter, Aaron Smith; Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Liam Messam, Richie McCaw (captain), Kieran Read.

Subs: Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Luke Romano, Steven Luatua, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden, Ryan Crotty.

Key Player

Liam Messam.  I was going to pick Dan Carter, but against an inexperienced England backline the new centurion should have no problems unlocking the defence with the vastly experienced and talented men outside him – provided he gets good ball.  Instead, I've gone for Liam Messam, who is very much the enforcer of the backrow.  He takes little in the way of plaudits, but Messam is a wrecking ball of a blindside who loves nothing more than crashing into tackles and breakdowns to help his side gain the physical upper hand.  Against South Africa, he was utterly immense, and he will know that England's only chance of winning will be to physically dominate the Kiwis like they did last year.  Messam will be determined not to let that happen again.

Key Battle

Chris Robshaw v Richie McCaw.  I almost resent picking two sevens as the key battle, as it almost seems lazy; the sort of thing Dewi Morris would do on Sky Sports before sitting back with undeservedly smug look on his face, as if he's just imparted some unfathomable wisdom.  But, in this case, it's impossible to look past the mouth-watering clash between the 2 captains.  Robshaw and McCaw will be two of the key players in the all-important battle of the breakdown, with McCaw the long established master of this area.  However, look at the stats and you'll see that the argument that Robshaw isn't a 'true openside' doesn't have much traction.  In their last 10 Tests, McCaw has averaged just 0.2 more turnovers per game than Robshaw (1.6 to 1.4), whilst Robshaw makes more tackles, carries more often and for greater yardage.  So where is the real difference?  That is in the areas that can't be measured, the slow 'rolling away' in the tackle, the pushing of the offside line – all cheeky aspects of openside play that McCaw has mastered.  Both are great leaders of men, and you fancy whoever gets on top between these two will inspire his men to greater things, but if Robshaw wants to emerge victorious he will need to lose that 'good boy' persona and get a little bit nasty.

 

Prediction

Some England fans may be feeling (or clinging on to) a sense of deja vous going into this fixture.  One year ago, the hosts were written off prior to the World Champions arriving, and instead produced a complete performance to shock the rugby world (admittedly aided by some dodgy seafood).  To win this time around, they need to be damned near perfect – they have to dominate the set piece, dominate the breakdown, dominate the collisions and dominate territory with a strong kicking game.  England are capable of winning any one of those areas – but winning them all?  That's a real stretch, especially with injuries to key players.  The All Blacks look just too classy at the moment, and with revenge in their eyes I can see them turning over this brave, but limited, England side relatively comfortably.  But isn't that what we said last year…? New Zealand by 12.

Let's see what's happening in the other Autumn Internationals this weekend:

Italy v Fiji:  The Italians have been nothing short of terrible of late, losing badly in South Africa over the summer and now getting hammered at home against the Wallabies.  Fiji though have failed to kick on from their impressive form in 2007, and should represent a good opportunity for the hosts to finally pick up a win.  Italy by 9.

Scotland v South Africa:  Loyal Scottish fans may be dreaming of a repeat of their glorious win over the Springboks a couple of years ago, but under Heyneke Meyer they've become a much more rounded side and should have enough in the tank to see off a physical challenge from the hosts.  South Africa by 13.

Wales v Argentina:  Wales have an opportunity to get back to winning ways and should make the most of it against a deflated Argentinian side, but need to be wary of a backlash after captain Sam Warburton declared they were "too good" to lose to the Pumas.  Wales by 14.

Ireland v Australia:  Possibly the tightest game of the weekend to call.  Australia may have lost to England but have been looking resurgent of late and their last display against Italy certainly showed that their attacking game is on song.  Ireland have home backing though and the pack will fancy their chances at winning the collisions.  Ireland by 3.

France v Tonga:  Tonga will arrive in Paris looking to rattle a few ribcages but that's as far as they'll go.  The French showed a good amount of physicality and invention last weekend and they'll have too much for the Islanders.  France by 25.

Autumn Internationals Review - England 31 - 12 Argentina

Playing Argentina as the middle game in a trio of Autumn Internationals, in between playing Australia and New Zealand, is a tricky prospect.  With the greatest respect to the Argentines, their recent form and current circumstances (with a new coach and rumours of a split in the camp) have put them several levels beneath the traditional Southern Hemisphere ‘big three’.  So, after one decent scalp and with the prospect of the mother of all challenges awaiting the next week, the players in white could perhaps be forgiven for not getting as up for this one as they might do for others.  It’s a bit like trying to get excited about eating a cheese sandwich in between a breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled egg and a dinner of beef wellington.

But not Stuart Lancaster’s England.  No, the likeable Yorkshire man has insisted on all sorts of techniques to restore pride in the shirt – letters from family and friends, videos of classic matches and speeches from other famous patriotic sorts.  How much is PR garbage, I’m not sure, but what I am sure about is that he has achieved his goal on getting an England side that is honest and sincere in its intention to become the best side in the world.  Although that may be a fair way off, it starts with beating strong – but limited – sides like Argentina, and doing it comfortably in a clear, decisive manner.

Within minutes of kicking off, three things became clear.  Firstly, Argentina’s alternate strip is not only sensible, but it’s bloody sexy.  England marketing and clothing ‘gurus’, take note.  Secondly, kudos to Dylan Hartley for a very smart moustache that makes his look like a WW2 pilot.  Thirdly, England’s defence is looking more and more assured under the stewardship of Andy Farrell.  OK, Argentina may not exactly be the All Blacks when it comes to attacking play, but they looked very ordinary as the hosts repelled early possession from the Pumas, forcing Nicholas Sanchez to kick long to the dangerous Mike Brown.  England built momentum with good carries from Brown and Joe Marler, and eventually captain-for-the-day Juan Martin Leguizamon conceded a penalty, which was slotted by Owen Farrell.

The lead didn’t last for long though, as Juan Imhoff charged down Lee Dickson in the scrum half’s 22 as he attempted a clearance kick in apparent slow motion, allowing the visitors to build pressure and force the offside from the defence.  Sanchez made no mistake with the kick, and it was all square.  But this was quickly looking like a game that was anything but even, as Chris Robshaw turned down a kick at goal to go for the corner and, after a couple of attempts, the ever-present Joe Launchbury piled over the line as the hosts mauled their way over from 5 metres out.  It was some statement from the England pack.

Up front the men in white were looking assured in the loose and dominant at ruck time, with Tom Wood and Launchbury looking as energetic as ever, but the Argentines did at least have the upper hand in the scrum, where Marcos Ayerza earned a penalty out of David Wilson on halfway.  Marcelo Bosch stepped up and slammed over the 3 points, but England came straight back into Puma territory.  Dylan Hartley carried strongly to set up field position, eventually giving Ashton what looked like an easy finish – but the Saracens man opted to step inside instead of going for the corner, and was held up by Imhoff and Lucas Amorosino.  It was a try which Christian Wade, Marland Yarde, or even Ashton 2 years ago would have finished with their eyes closed.  Running backwards.

Luckily for the much-maligned England winger, he had a chance to instantly make amends, and he did so by popping up a loose ball from the ensuing scrum into the hands of Billy Twelvetrees, who barged his way over from 5 metres to give England their second try and help erase the memory of being steam rollered the week before.  Things were to get even better for the hosts after Farrell’s conversion as they dominated the next 10 minutes as well, winning the collisions and generating quick ball which Brown, Wood, Twelvetrees and Hartley utilised to good effect, making significant yardage.  A short range lineout and series of drives eventually opened up space on the blindside, giving Ashton a clear run to the line.  The try was given, but replays showed that the Sarries winger was too busy sliding on his arse to actually put the ball down in time.  Seriously, what is the matter with him?  Nothing was the matter with Farrell’s boot, however, as he slammed over a superb conversion from the touchline, leaving the halftime score 24 – 6 to England.

The crowd found themselves enjoying a half time break and being able to reflect on one of the most impressive first half displays by an England side for a good while.  Their game had power through their key ball carriers, the pack were producing quick ball, and even the backline was showing some cohesion – even if not a huge amount of penetration.  Another half of that and there would be a real springboard for the game against the All Blacks.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be.

What was to be, though, was a complete switch off from the entire England side.  Lee Dickson was pinged for feeding at the scrum, Argentina mauled England’s pack into the ground and Sanchez added 3 points.  The hosts were starting to make mistakes they weren’t making in the first half and key players began to go missing; Tom Wood was penalised for lazily going off his feet, Dylan Hartley stopped carrying with the phenomenal energy he had showed in the first half and the backline began to overrun the ball on a regular basis.  In fact, as a spectacle, the game became so scrappy and eye-bleedingly bad that crowd’s biggest cheer was reserved for the sight of David Beckham in the stands on the big screen.  

Even the introduction of usually-electric Danny Care did little to improve England’s pace or cohesion.  Sanchez knocked over another penalty for the visitors, but in reality nothing of note was happening for either side.  Argentina were still creating next to nothing with the ball in hand, England were playing far to laterally and still mistakes were being made – the lack of intensity was worrying.  The two pluses, if any, for the hosts, were the way in which their scrum came back to dominate the opposition following the introductions of Alex Corbisiero, Tom Youngs and Dan Cole, and how their defence dealt with a typically physical but limited attack on their line by the Pumas.

But, just as the crowd were getting up to leave – as much to ease the boredom as to avoid the traffic – a successful lineout (which had become ropey following Tom Youngs’ introduction) gave clean quick ball to substitute Ben Morgan, who charged through some pretty flimsy tackling to run in and score from 20 metres out.  It gave the scoreline a pleasant gloss at the end of the game – 31-12 – but the reality was that the good work of the first half had all but almost been undone by the sloppy laziness of the second.

It looks like, once again, that England will go into a clash against the All Blacks with more questions than answers.  That may have worked for them last time out, but you get the impression that the All Blacks will be providing a somewhat sterner examination next week.  The men in white better start doing their homework.

 

England Player Ratings

Mike Brown – 7 – Not a spectacular as last week but still a reliable presence at the back and demonstrated his uncanny ability to beat the first man.  Just loves attacking.

Chris Ashton – 5 – OK, well done on the try Chris (although it wasn’t a try) but otherwise he looks too slow, indecisive and defensively suspect to be an international winger at the moment.  In my opinion, it would be more of a risk to play him instead of the inexperienced Christian Wade against the All Blacks.

Joel Tomkins – 4 – This may sound harsh, considering he did nothing particularly wrong, but your 13 has to offer something.  I’m yet to see him offer anything.  No step, no real pace and not enough power to excuse the lack of the first two.  There have to be other options.

Billy Twelvetrees – 7 – Got sloppy in the second half, but was sharp for the first period, taking his try well and distributing with precision.  There’s still more to come though, I feel.

Ben Foden – 6 – Challenged and chased gamely and looked to get involved wherever possible, but didn’t find the space to show what he can really do.

Owen Farrell – 6 – Another to fade badly in the second half.  His kicking and decision making was excellent in the first half, despite his distribution still being slightly wobbly, but made some glaring mistakes in the second 40.

Lee Dickson – 6 – Stuart Barnes may have been getting excited but I didn’t quite buy it.  His service was decent, no doubt, but he still made some errors at key times which handed initiative back to the Pumas.

Joe Marler – 5 – Carried with real energy and power but struggled in the scrum – which is no disgrace against Argentina.  Replaced at half time with concussion.

Dylan Hartley – 9 – A real statement from the Northampton man.  Ran from depth and with aggression and was mostly accurate in the lineout.  Loses the man of the match award because, as a leader, he shouldn’t have faded in influence as he did.

Dave Wilson – 5 – He didn’t play badly but he probably didn’t take his chance.  Carried reasonably well but struggled against Marcos Ayerza in the set piece.

Joe Launchbury – 9 – Often unseen, but always excellent.  One of the few players to not fade in the second period, he was everywhere – making tackles and a nuisance of himself in the ruck.  Scored a deserved first try.  Man of the match.

Courtney Lawes – 8 – Another very good showing from the rejuvenated lock.  Just when you thing he’s gone quiet, bang!  There he is.  Frightens opposition half backs.

Tom Wood – 7 – Loses a mark for conceding several kickable penalties in the second half, but he was very impressive early on, carrying hard and dominating the tackle area.

Chris Robshaw – 7 – Another all-action performance but he will be disappointed he was not able to rally his troops in the second half as they lost their concentration.

Billy Vunipola – 6 – Not quite as destructive as last week, but still a couple of big charges got the stadium shaking.  Decision making was a bit off at times.

 

Subs used

Tom Youngs – 5 – The new dad probably had his mind on more important matters, but a couple of skewed throws has put his starting spot in doubt.

Alex Corbisiero – 7 – Helped recover and, eventually, gain the upper hand in the set piece.  A welcome return.

Dan Cole – 7 – Along with Corbisiero, got on top of the Puma front row in the second half and probably cemented his starting spot for next week.

Geoff Parling – 5 – Despite being impeded, he will be a little disappointed at failing to take a couple of key restarts.  The misfortune of being injured may have cost him his place.

Ben Morgan – 8 – Made a statement when he came on by taking the ball at pace and from depth, scoring an impressive try in the process.

Danny Care – 1 – I’ve deducted 5 points for the vomit inducing moustache and haircut combo he is cultivating.  Aside from that, a decent showing but was unable to up the tempo.

Toby Flood – 6 – Solid, with some nice footwork thrown in.  Was desperate for some decent ball, but saw next to none.

Alex Goode – Not enough time to have an impact.

 

What else was happening in the world of international rugby at the weekend?

France 19 – 26 New Zealand:  The All Blacks came out on top in an ultra-physical battle against Les Bleus, with magic from Charles Piutau proving the difference between the sides.  The winger scored one and set up another for Kieran Read, whilst the hosts crossed through Brice Dulin.

Ireland 40 – 9 Samoa:  Ireland cut loose against a weakened Samoa side with a dominant second half display.  The men in green scored tries through Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien, Dave Kearney (2) and Fergus McFadden.

Wales 15 – 24 South Africa:  Wales yet again failed to register a win against a Southern Hemisphere side, although they were rocked by injuries to key players Jonathan Davies and Adam Jones early on.  They were outscored 3 – 0 though, as Jean De Villiers, Bismarck Du Plessis and Fourie Du Preez touched down for the Springboks.

Scotland 42 – 17 Japan:  Scotland eventually put a gallant Japan side to the sword, scoring 6 tries in the process.  Tommy Seymour (2), Greg Laidlaw, Duncan Weir, Alasdair Dickinson and Sean Lamont all scored for the hosts, with Kenki Fukoaka grabbing a double for the Cherry Blossoms.

Italy 20 – 50 Australia:  The Wallabies bounced back from disappointment at Twickenham by hammering the Azzurri in Rome.  Ben Mowen, Tevita Kuridrani, Nick Cummins (2), Adam Ashley-Cooper, Joe Tomane and Israel Folau scored for the men in gold, with Luck McLean and Lorenzo Cittadini responding for the hosts.

Autumn International Preview - England v Argentina

It's not very often you go into an international weekend as an England fan with a feeling of deflation.  Expectation?  Occasionally.  Hope?  Against my better judgement, more often than not.  Dread?  Regularly.  Numb despondency?  Occasionally – often when Andy Robinson was picking the team.  But this weekend should have been a chance to see one of the most exciting wing pairings in years strut their stuff in front of an expectant home crowd.  Marland Yarde showed glimpses of his speed and power at the weekend whilst Christian Wade was in phenomenal form for Wasps, bagging two tries from the half way line in a scintillating display of acceleration and footwork.  Instead, minor ailments have ensured that neither man will be gracing the hallowed home of English rugby this weekend, and instead their spots will be taken by a man who hasn't found international form for 18 months and a full back playing out of position.   Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Chris Ashton when he's on form, but we haven't seen that for years.  Perhaps now he has had a stern warning, we may see some sparks fly.

Stuart Lancaster has attempted to quell the feeling of disappointment of not seeing two of the most exciting young talents in the English game in the famous white shirt by instilling one of curiosity, as he changes the entire front row for the match up against the Pumas on Saturday.  Joe Marler is in for Mako Vunipola, who is injured, with the returning Alex Corbisiero on the bench, Dylan Hartley steps in for new-father Tom Youngs and, most surprisingly, Dan Cole is replaced by David Wilson.  The first two changes are semi-forced and understandable, but the latter had me confused at first – Dan Cole had been the central figure in an utterly dominant England scrum last weekend, destroying James Slipper and earning 7 penalties in the process.  It was difficult to see why he was dropped.  But then I came to realise this is a positive change.  Cole has been a fixture in the side for years, and no other tighthead has really been tested as a starter, and a match against the Pumas represents a more than significant challenge to anyone wanting to challenge Cole's spot.  Plus, Wilson's form has been impressive and all facets of his game have been improving – Cole is still first choice in my book, but Wilson has a real chance to put himself forward as a genuine option.  And against the Pumas front row, there's no better place to test yourself.

The South Americans come into this in what can best be described as disarray, and worst as a chaotic mess.  With rumours of a split in the camp, coach Santiago Phelan walking out on the eve of the tour and a 40 point hammering at home to Australia, morale must be low.  The deflated feeling amongst England fans won't have been helped either by the news that 2 of their truly world-class operators – Juan Martin Hernandez and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe – are injured for the fixture.  But in times like these, sides can either rally or collapse.  I know what I expect to see from them, and Stuart Lancaster's men should be expecting that fiery Latino passion.  There's nothing more dangerous than a Puma side that has been written off.    As is tradition, everyone has been banging on about the scrum in the build up to this one – and to some extent that's right with the calibre of scrummagers they have at their disposal, but I'd suggest that they have extremely capable players out wide as well, although they appear to be unsure as to how to bring them into play effectively at the moment.  Their back 3 of Amorosino, Agulla and Imhoff are all proven at top club and international level, and can be lethal if given space.

That's not to say England don't have threats of their own – indeed, the competition for places that is developing should ensure that players are looking to show as much ambition as possible.  The vote of confidence for Billy Twelvetrees should see him demanding ball off the half backs and looking to dictate play with the authority we've seen for Gloucester.  How effective that proves to be will be down to whether or not Owen Farrell and Lee Dickson express at least a modicum of understanding, which was missing last week – but one thing is for sure, they shouldn't lack for front foot ball, with Billy Vunipola, Wilson and Courtney Lawes lurking about.  And that's not the mention the all-Test Lion tight 5 they have on the bench.  Useful.

So, despite the disappointment of injuries to promising players, perhaps there are a couple of reasons to be hopeful.  England are building a genuinely competitive squad and, if they win – and win with style – maybe there will be some reasons to feel a little more 'inflated' for the visit of the All Blacks.

 

England Team News

England have made four changes to their starting XV for Saturday's Test against Argentina at Twickenham.  Leicester prop Dan Cole, who has been a fixture in the England side since making his debut in 2010, makes way for Bath tight-head David Wilson.   Dylan Hartley replaces Tom Youngs at hooker after the Leicester man had been away at the birth of his first child during the week and loose-head Joe Marler replaces the injured Mako Vunipola.   Ben Foden comes in for the injured Marland Yarde on the wing but Christian Wade is out with a hamstring strain.  Scrum-half Ben Youngs failed a fitness test on a hip injury on Friday and will be replaced on the bench by Danny Care.

Starting Line-up: Mike Brown, Chris Ashton, Joel Tomkins, Billy Twelvetrees, Ben Foden, Owen Farrell, Lee Dickson; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, David Wilson, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw (captain), Billy Vunipola

Subs: Tom Youngs, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Ben Morgan, Danny Care, Toby Flood, Alex Goode

Key Player

Billy Twelvetrees.  Of course, the game-deciding battles will be up front, but when you're looking at individuals who need a big game, there is none who stands out more than Billy Twelvetrees.  Well, perhaps Chris Ashton, but we've been saying that for the last 18 months.  Rightly vilified for a terrible missed tackle on Matt Toomua that led to a try last week, he cut a frustrated figure in attack as Farrell and Dickson failed to gel.  He needs to focus on bringing Tomkins and his back 3 into the game with his distribution, as that's what he's in for.  Taking it one play at a time should bring out the best in a player who has been tipped in some quarters as England's next Will Greenwood…no pressure then.

Argentina Team News

New coach Daniel Hourcade has made five changes from the team crushed 54-17 by Australia in the Rugby Championship.   Full-back Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, centre Santiago Fernandez and scrum-half Tomas Cubelli come into the side.   Amorosino replaces the injured Juan Martin Hernandez, Fernandez takes over from the now-retired Felipe Contepomi, while Cubelli has been preferred to Martin Landajo, with both nines playing their club rugby in the amateur Buenos Aires championship.  Maximiliano Bustos comes into the front row for injured prop Juan Figallo, while a late change sees Eusebio Guinazu retain his place after Agustin Creevy withdrew injured.   Further positional changes see brilliant youngster Pablo Matera move from open-side flanker to blind-side to cover the absent Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, while Julio Farias Cabello switches from lock to open-side.  Number 8 Juan Manuel Lequizamon takes over the captaincy.

Starting Line-up:  Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Horacio Agulla, Marcelo Bosch, Santiago Fernandez, Juan Imhoff, Nicolas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli; Marcos Ayerza, Eusebio Guinazu, Maximiliano Bustos, Mariano Galarza, Patricio Albacete, Pablo Matera, Julio Farias Cabello, Juan Manuel Leguizamon (captain).

Subs: Santiago Iglesias, Nahuel Lobo, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Manuel Carizza, Benjamín Macome, Martin Landajo, Gonzalo Tiesi, Santiago Cordero.

Key Player

Juan Manuel Leguizamon.  I've never been the biggest fan of the number 8 at club level – perhaps because whenever I see him my mind jumps back to his hilariously stupid bombed try for London Irish – but he does seem to do the business with an international jersey on.  He is a big physical presence and he will need to be mobile as well to make up for the loss of a man as influential as Lobbe.  We all know about the Pumas set piece power, but what we need to see from the back row to make them a threat is speed over the ground and intelligent running lines of Sanchez to really test the England defence.  Keep an eye out for new Leicester boy Pablo Matera as well – some raw talent on show.

Key Battle

David Wilson v Marcos Ayerza.  It's not sexy, it's not glamorous, and some would say that it's not even entertaining, but there can be no doubting the crucial battle will take place in the scrum – in particular the arm wrestle between Wilson and Ayerza.  Wilson has a great chance to stake a claim as a regular starter, but he will have to do it against one of the best looseheads in Europe.  Wilson hasn't always had it easy when scrummaging against Ayerza at club level, but the Bath tighthead has made a marked improvement and seems to have adjusted well to the new laws.  His job will be to hold his ground and ensure that Ayerza doesn't get underneath in, whilst simultaneously making life for hooker Eusebio Guinazu as uncomfortable as possible.  Easy.

Prediction

The Pumas certainly boast an impressive amount of experience within their ranks and it's hard to see them putting in a display as wet as the one that sunk to a miserable defeat to the Wallabies.  But, despite the deflated feel in a fairly unambitious line up, this England side still has the muscle and skillset to do the business against a Pumas side who must be struggling for form and confidence.  I don't expect a walkover – but the Twickenham faithful should be expecting a comfortable win, with at least a smidgeon of attacking finesse this time.  England by 16.

 

The autumn internationals get underway properly this weekend, let's see what's happening elsewhere:

Italy v Australia:  Despite the setback of last week, the Wallabies should have too much class for the Azurri – but their scrum will have to improve.  Australia by 7.

Scotland v Japan:  Japan are developing into a competitive outfit but it is difficult to see them making too many waves against a powerful Scotland side.  Scotland by 22.

Wales v South Africa:  In one of the games of the weekend, fireworks are promised at the Millennium Stadium.  With two sets of titanic forwards and gifted backs, this promises to be a nailbiter.  South Africa are well and truly warmed up though, after their Rugby Championship exploits.  South Africa by 5.

Ireland v Samoa:  In my view, Samoa have announced themselves as a top 8 side in world rugby so this will be a tricky – and bruising encounter – for the Irish.  Home advantage should see them through.  Ireland by 8.
 

Freance v New Zealand:  In another traditional thriller, the French look like they may once again be hindered by some questionable selections from Philippe Saint Andre.  Kiwis too strong.  All Blacks by 10.

Premiership Review - Leicester Tigers 16 - 23 Harlequins

Every side has a ‘bogey’ team – a side which seems to create a mental block when it comes to winning every time the teams face one another.  To be a championship-winning side, you really shouldn't have many of these – the definition of a bogey-team is consistently losing to a side you are more than capable of winning against.  So when you hear Harlequins have won 3 out of their last 5 against Leicester at Welford Road heading into their latest fixture, you get a sense that the sight of the Quins team bus hurtling up the M1 is enough to cause many a squeaky-bum amongst the Tigers faithful.

Of course, several of Harlequins' wins have been in situations just like Saturday's – in the international windows.  That's not to put a dampener on Quins achievements though, as any win at the Welford Road fortress is worth its weight in gold, no matter which Leicester line-up you face - and these days Harlequins are more than capable of turning over anybody on their day.  Perhaps what set this fixture apart from the rest, though, was that both sides were in exactly the same boat – riddled with injuries, struck by international call-ups.  The ultimate double whammy.

With both sides fielding rather mix-and-match line ups, and a swirling wind at Welford Road, it was perhaps no surprise that both sides were struggling for fluency in the opening 10 minutes.   Owen Williams, the young Welsh fly half, belied the conditions though with a superb kick from halfway to put the Tigers 3 – 0 up after a scrappy start to the match.  But then the Quins engine began to purr.  With many, including myself, doubting whether or not the pack could withstand the Tigers’ power, the spine of the Londoners side stood up and yards alarmingly easily through Leicester’s defence, with Nick Easter, Tom Guest and George Robson leading the way executing the powerful offloading game that makes them such a joy to watch.  However, scrappy play and some good last ditch defence from Ed Slater and Niall Morris denied the visitors the reward their play deserved, and instead the hosts found themselves an unlikely 6 – 0 lead after another well-struck Williams penalty, thanks to a dominant scrum led by Logovi’i Mulipola and Marcos Ayerza.

Despite the lead though, it was all one way traffic.  Despite playing with a strong breeze mostly at their backs, Leicester couldn’t get out of their own half – although this wasn’t helped by the hammer-booted Owen Williams missing touch and finding the dead ball line from his own 22 metre line.  Worryingly for the Tigers, the Quins backs were also starting to fire, with Matt Hopper, Nick Evans and the electrically talented Charlie Walker all make real inroads into the Tigers’ defence.  They laid siege to their line and were rewarded when Julian Salvi was penalised for hands in the ruck, and the Aussie received a yellow card for his troubles.  I took issue with this – not because it wasn’t worthy of a yellow card, but the fact that it was only Leicester’s second penalty, whilst the count stood at nine for the visitors.  Referee Tim Wigglesworth had shown plenty of leniency in the scrum for Quins, and it was surprising to see him take such a harsh line on Salvi.  Evans, of course, couldn’t care less, and slotted over 3 points before, on the cusp of half time, Easter crashed over from close range to give the visitors a 4 point lead at the break.

Things didn’t get any easier after the break for the home side as the cost of Salvi’s sin binning continuing to spiral.  With players missing basic tackles – Jordan Crane in particular was putting in efforts that Bambi would have been ashamed off – the visitors had no problem in building momentum, and when Matt Hopper received the ball on the left wing, he expertly stepped inside the covering Scott Hamilton, Ed Slater and Niall Morris to touch down beneath the sticks.

Salvi then returned to the fray, and Leicester began to return belatedly to the game.  With Ed Slater, Mulipola and Graham Kitchener making good yardage, it looked as if the Tigers pack would claw the hosts back into contention.  But every time the ball went wide, the cohesion disappeared – on account of Leicester being down to their second choice 12 and fourth choice 13, perhaps.  But the main factor that was keeping them away from the Quins line was outstanding defence.  Sensational cover defence from Evans and Walker kept Adam Thompstone out, before Ugo Monye weighed in with a couple of punishing hits.  With Steve Mafi on for the ineffectual Louis Deacon, the men in green were well on top – but with nothing to show for it.  Instead, Evans slammed over another kick with 10 minutes to go to take the game well away from the Tigers.

The problems got worse for the hosts, as they were forced to watch Matt Smith and Dan Bowden follow Terence Hepetema off the field with head injuries, meaning the Tigers packed down for the final scrum of the game with the unusual backline of full back Blaine Scully and winger Thompstone in the centres, and scrum half Sam Harrison and prop Fraser Balmain on the wings.  Luckily, the hosts’ scrum had been the sharpest object in their armoury, and the pack earned their long overdue reward by grabbing a penalty try with the last play of the game.

It earned the Tigers a bonus point at 16 – 23, but it proved once again that Quins are the Tigers’ bogey team – no matter which side takes the field.

 

What else was happening in the Premiership at the weekend?

 

Worcester Warriors 6 – 21 Bath:  The Warriors misery continued as they limply fell to defeat at Sixways on Friday night.  Bath deserved their win and picked up two tries though Anthony Perenise and Horacio Agulla.

Sale Sharks 16 – 18 Exeter Chiefs:  The Chiefs continued their fine form with a narrow victory at the AJ Bell Stadium, despite the hosts scoring the game's only try though Mark Cueto.  Gareth Steenson was the man on target with the boot for the visitors, nailing 6 penalties.

Gloucester 30 – 32 London Wasps:  Wasps picked up a crucial win as the Cherry and Whites fell to yet another disappointing defeat in a thriller at Kingsholm.  Shaun Knight, Sione Kalamofoni and Rob Cook (2) picked up the 5-pointers for the hosts, whilst a sensational double from Chrisian Wade and tries from Nathan Hughes and Guy Thompson sealed a dramatic win for the visitors.

Saracens 40 – 3 Newcastle Falcons:  Sarries coasted to victory over the Falcons at Allianz Park, picking up a try bonus point in the process.  Scores from Charlie Hodgson, David Strettle (2), Jamie George and Marcelo Bosch made it a comfortable afternoon for the Londoners.

London Irish 14 – 19 Northampton Saints:  Saints ruined James O'Connor's debut for Irish by grinding out a tight win at the Madejski Stadium.  Sailosi Tagicakibau scored for the home side, with James Wilson responding for the East Midlanders.
 

Autumn International Review - England 20 - 13 Australia

These Autumn Internationals are already giving me a headache.  It seems before any tournament or series that England play, the press get off their rear ends and stop writing about what knickers Miley Cyrus is wearing and instead pose unanswerable question after unanswerable question.  Is Chris Robshaw a ‘real’ openside (yawn)?  What’s England’s best centre combination?  Is it true Danny Care has been dropped because of his appalling haircut?

To be fair, it’s not just England facing the pressure.  The Aussies have had their own demons to deal with, with a series loss to the Lions and then a disappointing Rugby Championship campaign leading many to wonder why this undoubtedly talented Wallaby side were failing to fire.  But a sensational away win over Argentina in Rosaria and impressive showing in their defeat to the All Blacks was enough to at least inject a sense of hope and expectation behind all the questions about the Wallabies – in particular their pack – which remained unanswered.

But there’s something about the English press which really hammers home the importance of answering all these questions in time for the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in 2 years time.  Ranging from the suitability of individuals such as Mike Brown and Lee Dickson, to the balance of units in the pack – particularly the back row.  As England lined up against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, the plethora of ponderings was mind-boggling.

Another question that was hanging over England as the game kicked off was over the suitability of Chris Robshaw as both a captain and an openside.  I find this constant berating of one of England's best and most consistent performers tiresome at best, and he responded perfectly in the opening two minutes.  After the hosts had spilled the kick off and Quade Cooper had probed the defence with a smart cross-field kick which just eluded Adam Ashley-Cooper, Joe Launchbury made a nuisance of himself at a ruck, forcing the ball loose and allowing Tom Youngs to make an outstanding tackle.  First man in at the breakdown?  Robshaw.  The Wallabies were penalised for holding on and the men in white had their first points courtesy of Owen Farrell.

The lead didn't last for long though, as Youngs and Courtney Lawes managed to fluff a lineout, which gave the visitors a chance to apply pressure and earn a penalty, which Cooper duly slotted.  The game then took an odd path, with neither side able to develop any continuity, but it was the English who were dominating possession and territory.  Dan Cole was destroying James Slipper in the scrum and, with the help of Mako Vunipola, earning penalty after penalty.  However, with Lawes and Youngs still not quite in tune at the lineout, a lack of cohesion in the middle and uncharacteristic indecisiveness from Lee Dickson, England were unable to make any sort of inroads into a disciplined Wallaby defence.  The only threats they had were from the scrum and Mike Brown at 15, who got Twickenham on its feet with a magnificent regathering of his own chip ahead over Will Genia.  Despite the pack impressing with its dominance, Owen Farrell was unable to reward his side as he hooked his penalty attempts 3 consecutive times.

Finally, the Saracens man got his radar working with a simple kick close to the sticks, and it came after his clubmate and debutant Billy Vunipola swatted off Cooper like an irritating bug and made big inroads through the middle of the defence.  If the sight of Vunipola junior's raw talent was a welcome one, then the sight of Farrell finally hitting his mark and sending England 3 points up was even more so. 

Any sense of relief was short-lived, though, as centre Billy Twelvetrees endured the worst 5 minutes of his international career.  After Israel Folau got on the outside of Chris Ashton thanks to a sumptuous pass from Cooper, the Wallabies recycled and centre Matt Toomua – who repeatedly smashed Twelvetrees when the Brumbies played the Lions – introduced the Gloucester man to the soles of his feet as he smashed through the centre.  Cooper slotted the conversion and then added another kick as Twelvetrees was penalised within kicking distance, handing the Wallabies a 10 point lead.  It would prove to be a lead which they'd carry into half time, as more promising work by Brown on the counter was undone by indecisiveness by Farrell and Dickson.

It was starting to look like a painfully familiar story for England fans – another autumn of exaggerated expectations and disappointing defeats, made all the starker by the parading of the 2003 World Cup winning England squad during the break – but it was absolutely clear that it was going to be critical who scored first.  Unfortunately for the hosts, it looked like that it would be the men in gold who were the more likely to trouble the scoreboard, with Nick Cummins just failing to gather a kick in a promising position and then Cooper missing a penalty after Marland Yarde had checked Adam Ashley-Cooper on kick chase.  It was Australia with all the threat, all the penetration and all the invention.

But it was England with all the luck.  Mike Brown fielded a magnificent kick for Toomua and – not for the first time – prevented a kick destined for touch from finding its mark.  Replays showed, though, that Brown has deceptively big toes that were grazing the whitewash by his own tryline, meaning the Wallabies should have had the lineout by the England line.  Instead, Brown dummied the kick and surged up field, bringing the crowd to life, before a quick tap from Ashton helped release Yarde on the other wing, who burned his way past Will Genia and Tevita Kuridani with searing speed and power, only to be denied by a superb cover tackle by Adam Ashley-Cooper.  What looked to be the get-out-of-jail card for the Aussies though did not work out as planned, as Genia's box kick from the ensuing lineout was charged down, allowing Chris Robshaw to pounce on the loose ball and claim his first international try. 

Farrell nailed his conversion and suddenly it was England with all the tempo and attacking threat.  They were aided by the introductions of Dylan Hartley, who brought the lineout up to scratch and carried hard, and Ben Youngs, who finally added some direction and zip to the England thrust.  It paid dividends as they surged upfield and set up camp by the Wallaby line, and when Hartley 'leaned' into Stephen Moore, it created a gap for Farrell to burst through and touchdown to give England the lead.  Referee Stephen Clancy reviewed the score before awarding it, deciding that there hadn't been 'enough' obstruction to deny the try.

In the next 10 minutes England looked to hammer home their advantage, with Brown going close from a smart dabbed kick from Farrell and even Chris Ashton making some useful metres, but the alarm bells were starting to ring for the Wallabies, and as the game reached the closing stages they upped their game to another level.  With Nic White, on for the ineffectual Will Genia, directing play smartly and kicking intelligently, the visitors began to claw their way back into the game.  Nick Cummins shot through a gap, only to be denied by another superb tackle from the magnificent Brown, before Folau was halted short after Quade Cooper had rounded substitute Ben Morgan.  Try as they might, the Wallabies couldn't find the killer touch – but the England scrum had it in abundance, and the pack earned another couple of penalties to make the game safe, and set the final score at 20 – 13.

It was a scrappy, messy game but also intense, brutal and compelling.  There's a view that, from England's perspective, it will have raised more questions than answers after some unconvincing individual performances, but at least they've answered the key enquiry – can they beat quality opposition when they are expected to?  It wasn't pretty – at times it wasn't effective – but at least they've come out with the right answer.

 

England Player Ratings

Mike Brown – 9 – England’s best attacking threat fully justified his inclusion as he finally got to play in his preferred full back position.  His defensive work was strong, but his counter attacking was superb as he got his side on the front foot time and again.  Man of the match.

Chris Ashton – 5 – Didn’t do anything wrong, but didn’t do anything right either.  Was hardly involved but not necessarily his fault, given the poor cohesion inside him.

Joel Tomkins – 5 – Not the best debut.  Made a good early tackle on Folau but then was pretty much invisible for the next 75 minutes.  Partnership with Twelvetrees didn’t spark, although they had limited quality possession.

Billy Twelvetrees – 4 – He must hate the sight of Matt Toomua.  He recovered slightly in the second half, but his attempted tackle for the try was not that of an international 12 and his distribution skills weren’t on show for the majority of the game.

Marland Yarde – 6 – Promising stuff from the London Irish man.  Showed his pace and power on a couple of occasions but was over enthusiastic at times.

Owen Farrell – 7 – Had a nightmare second quarter where he missed 3 kicks and stopped directing with any authority.  But to recover and put in a fine 2^nd half display – including the key score – was very impressive.

Lee Dickson – 4 – Disappointing from a man who has been in top form for his club.  Average box kicking, ponderous decision making and poor service led to all sorts of problems for those outside him.  Is under pressure for his spot next week.

Mako Vunipola – 7 – Was well on top against Ben Alexander and was as destructive as ever on the carry.  Is becoming a really good option at loosehead.

Tom Youngs – 6 – Not his best day at the office as a couple of loose throws proved, but his energy in the loose was as impressive as ever, and was part of a dominant scrummaging effort.

Dan Cole – 7 – Utterly dominant in the set piece against James Slipper and tackled well, although it would be good to see that turnover work coming to the fore again.

Joe Launchbury – 8 – Impressive.  Busy all over the park and made a real nuisance of himself at rucktime.  A real force in defence and attack.

Courtney Lawes – 7 – The lineout didn’t always go according to plan but a couple of huge hits in the second half helped turn the tide.  Difficult to tell if he’s done enough to oust Geoff Parling.

Tom Wood – 6 – A quiet but workmanlike display from Wood.  Suffered from some sloppy handling at times but more than made up for that with some ferocious work in the loose.

Chris Robshaw – 8 – Yet another strong display from the skipper.  Prominent at ruck time – forcing 2 turnovers – and towards the top of the tackle charts and carries once again, his engine was impressive.  Out muscled Michael Hooper in the back row battle.

Billy Vunipola – 7 – Impressive home debut.  Literally threw Quade Cooper off on a couple of occasions to make some real in roads into the Wallaby defence, and made a textbook choke tackle on Genia.  Needs to stay more involved though, rather than drifting in and out.

Subs used

Dylan Hartley – 7 – Lineout seemed to improve and his carrying was impressive.  Will be pushing Youngs for a starting spot.

Joe Marler – 6 – Did nothing wrong and helped maintain the upper hand in the scrum.

David Wilson – 6 – Aside from the sight of a prop wearing upper-body skins, did well in the scrum and looked to carry as well.

Dave Attwood – Not enough time to make an impact.

Ben Morgan – 5 – A couple of good carries but couldn’t really get into the game – and a missed tackle on Quade Cooper did not make for good watching.

Ben Youngs – 7 – Another to breathe life into the England game.  Injected zip and urgency to the England attack and will be pressing Dickson hard.

Toby Flood – 6 – Was an authoritative presence on the pitch when the Wallabies were threatening to come back into things.

International Round Up

Japan 6 - 54 New Zealand:  An experimental New Zealand side thrashed their hosts, Japan, despite the Cherry Blossoms impressing in the opening exchanges.  Tries from Charles Piutau (2), Sam Cane, Ben Smith, Richie McCaw, Jeremy Thrush, Frank Halai and Beauden Barrett all helped rack up a big total.

Premiership Preview - Leicester Tigers v Harlequins

 

Don't get me wrong, I love the autumn internationals.   Top players from around the globe showcasing their stuff in front of the best stadia in the northern hemisphere, what's not to like?  That's right, the sight of your club being shorn of their best players right when they're bang smack in the middle of an injury crisis.  Leicester and Harlequins fans may be delighted to see the likes of Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Chris Robshaw and Mike Brown in England colours, but that unbridled joy is somewhat tinted by the fact that, currently, both sides are nursing an injury list as long as Mr Tickle's right arm.

The hosts, Leicester, have been particularly stricken.  With 18 key players injured – including Lions Tom Croft and Manu Tuilagi – the last thing Richard Cockerill would have wanted to see is Dan Cole, Tom Youngs, Geoff Parling, Ben Youngs and Toby Flood swanning off on international duty.  In their last outing, against Wasps, there was not one first choice player in the backline and only two (arguably three) in the pack.  No wonder they're struggling for consistency.  That said, this Tigers side still possess a bruising nucleus that could challenge any other pack in the league – it's time for the new Tigers, the offloading, free-scoring Tigers, to revert to stereotype.  In Marcos Ayerza they have one of the best scrummagers in the league, whilst Ed Slater is once again a superbly physical presence around the park – how he hasn't claimed England recognition yet, I do not know.  Add in the raw potential of new signing Pablo Matera and the nous of Julian Salvi, and you have a set of forwards who should be able to grind out a win in the toughest of circumstances.

Quins, on the other hand, have done well to shake off the traditional view that they're a bit soft up front with some standout performers, but the loss of Joe Marler and Chris Robshaw deprives them of physicality and leadership, whilst Maurie Fa'asavalu, Jordan Turner-Hall and George Lowe (sadly out for the season with a neck injury) are also noticeable by their absence.  But this is still a Quins side that has the potential to excite.  Their performance away at Clermont and at home against Sale showed that in George Robson and Nick Easter they have two grizzled campaigners who can mix it with the best, whilst Luke Wallace, Jack Clifford and Joe Trayfoot are a trio of young loose forwards with real speed and venom in the loose.  But it remains in the backline where, despite injuries, Quins still possess that X-Factor.  Danny Care can count himself incredibly unlucky not to be involved with England at the weekend but he'll be completely focused on making life difficult for his usurper (Ben Youngs)' club, and in the backline the sheer combination of pace and footwork in the likes of Ugo Monye and the young Charlie Walker make this a side you cannot afford to take your eyes off.

For both sides, the only way to get a win will be to revert to stereotype.  And, even in the absence of so many internationals and other stars, that makes for one hell of a prospect.

 

Leicester Team News

Leicester recall Graham Kitchener and Scott Hamilton following last Sunday's defeat by London Wasps.  Kitchener partners Louis Deacon in the second row, Hamilton returns to the wing, and Matt Smith is fit and in the squad for the first time this season.

Starting Line up:  Morris; Hamilton, Hepetema, Bowden, Thompstone; Williams, Mele; Ayerza, Briggs, Mulipola; Deacon (capt), Kitchener; Slater, Salvi, Crane.

Subs: Chuter, Stankovich, Balmain, Mafi, Waldrom, Harrison, Smith, Scully.

Key Player

Owen Williams.  The young Welshman has been impressive in his brief displays so far this season and, thanks to the moronic actions of Ryan Lamb (who broke his hand throwing a punch), he is Tigers' fly half for the next month.  Tigers fans already know of his natural tendency to run and counter attack, as well as his handy form with the boot off the tee, but with the hosts looking to dominate in the tight his pack will demand to be playing in the right areas of the pitch.  And when Leicester's forwards tell you to do something… He was taught a lesson in game management by veteran Andy Goode last week, but he will be better for it.  If he gets his tactical kicking game on song then Tigers will have a shot at winning.

Harlequins Team News

Nick Evans moves to full-back to replace the injured Tom Williams and Ben Botica starts at fly-half.  Charlie Walker and Ugo Monye play on the right and left wings respectively, with Danny Care completing the backline.

Starting Line up: Evans; Walker, Hopper, Molenaar, Monye; Botica, Care; Lambert, Ward, Collier; Easter (capt), Robson; Trayfoot, Wallace, Guest.

Subs: Allen, Marfo, Mayhew, Matthews, Clifford, Dickson, Casson, Smith.

Key Player

Charlie Walker.  Yes he's on the wing, but since I've proclaimed him as the one to watch in the Premiership this season I should give him kudos his first Premiership start.  In the brief glimpses we've seen of the young centre-cum-winger-cum-fullback this year, we've seen some electric pace coupled with real balance and a deadly step.  At Welford Road, on a narrow pitch though, it will be his defensive duties that will be placed under scrutiny, especially when facing up to the powerful figure of Adam Thompstone.  That said, any loose kicks by Williams will be a real opportunity for Walker to run in space – and that will be very bad news for the Tigers.

 

Key Battle

David Mele v Danny Care.  A battle of two yappy 9s is always entertaining – and occasionally amusing – to watch, and this should be no different.  Mele has become a popular figure at Welford Road since his summer arrival, with his feisty nature and sharp service proving a valuable asset to the side, especially with Ben Youngs out of form.  With the pack aiming to dominate, Mele can help Williams get them into the right areas of the park by utilising his kicking game – which has been hit and miss so far this season.  Of course, he'll have to simultaneously try to shut down the threat of Danny Care, the heartbeat of this Quins side.  With any ball that the visitors do get, the England man will have to make sure he makes the right decisions to put his quick men into as much space as possible.

Prediction

I know many Leicester fans have this down as a loss already, given how much the squad has been reduced to its bare bones in recent weeks.  That said, Quins find themselves in a similar position and, although it's a shame such a cracking match up had to take place in the international window, it does add a real intrigue to the fixture.  With drizzle forecast for 5 30 pm on Saturday (kick off), it's looking as if the ball may just have fallen into the hosts' court.  If they can get the forward dominance they are after, and pepper out-of-position fullback Nick Evans with high balls, then they should just about claim the win.  Tigers by 5.

 

What else is happening in the Aviva Premiership this weekend?

Worcester Warriors v Bath:  This must be a target game for Dean Ryan's men, given how Bath and George Ford have noticeably struggled in wet conditions – is the confidence there though?  Bath by 3.

Sale Sharks v Exeter Chiefs:  Sale at home on Friday night is always a tough place to get a win, even if the Chiefs are in scintillating form at the moment.  Perhaps a trip too far? Sharks by 4.

Gloucester v London Wasps:  A home game against struggling Wasps represents a great opportunity to pick up some points for the Cherry and Whites, despite the Londoners beating the Tigers last week.  Gloucester by 6.

London Irish v Northampton Saints:  It's impossible to look past the East Midlanders after their fantastic destruction of Saracens last weekend, despite Irish looking impressive at home.  Saints by 12.

Saracens v Newcastle Falcons:  Sarries will be livid with their display last weekend and a home game against Premiership new boys Newcastle is a perfect way to bounce back.  Sarries by 15.