Aviva Premiership Big Match Preview - Harlequins v Leicester Tigers

Harelquins host the Leicester Tigers in a top of the table clash which, despite both sides being shorn of key international players, has the potential to be a cracker.  Well, it was last season.  Quins roared into a lead with some superb attacking rugby but the Tigers came roaring back with scintillating stuff of their own, grabbing a magnificent bonus point victory in the process.

There is a big difference now, however.  Whilst Quins are still flinging the ball about and playing with an admirable ambition and accuracy, Leicester have been playing like a bunch of stuffed turkeys for the most part.  How they are top of the table at this stage of the season is quite frankly as big a mystery as Big Foot.  With the talent out wide they possess, they've got no excuse not to be getting over the whitewash multiple times every single game after picking up a ridiculous 6 consecutive try bonus points with virtually the same team last year, as well as the fact they’ve topped the try scoring charts for 3 out of the last 4 seasons.  Quins on the other hand are still playing their brand of 'total rugby' which saw them gain revenge for their home defeat by beating Leicester in the Premiership final for a deserved win and their first ever domestic league title.

It has the potential to be a spectacle, but will Leicester finally get out of third gear and how will the sides cope with the loss of so many England stars?

 

Harlequins Team News

Danny Care returns from England duty at the expense of Karl Dickson, but Joe Marler, Mike Brown and Chris Robshaw have remained with the international squad.  Captain Nick Easter moves into the second-row to accommodate Maurie Fa'asavalu at blindside flanker.

Starting Line-up: Chisholm; Williams, Hopper, Turner-Hall, Monye; Evans, Care; Lambert, Gray, Johnston, Easter (c), Robson, Fa'asavalu, Wallace, Guest.

Replacements: Buchanan, Marfo, Collier, Matthews, Trayfoot, Burns, Botica, Lowe.

Key Player

Nick Easter.  The veteran number 8 was outshone last week by young pretender Billy Vunipola.  Although he's been pressed into service at 2nd row, he'll be needed to make his trademark big carries off Nick Evans' shoulder and help the team find its confidence after a rare home loss in their last outing.

Leicester Tigers Team News

Leicester Tigers make five changes from last week's win over London Welsh.  Toby Flood, Manu Tuilagi and Thomas Waldrom are back from the England squad whilst Scott Hamilton, and Brett Deacon get recalls.  Ben Youngs, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole and Geoff Parling are, however, still on international duty.

Starting Line-up: Tait; Hamilton, Tuilagi, Allen, Thompstone; Flood, Harrison; Ayerza, Hawkins, Mulipola, L. Deacon (c), Kitchener, B. Deacon, Salvi, Waldrom.

Replacements: Chuter, Stankovich, Balmain, Slater, Crane, Young, Ford, Smith.

Key Player

Manu Tuilagi.  The human-wrecking ball is a force of nature and he will be itching to prove his match fitness for Stuart Lancaster with the test match against France just round the corner.  It all depends how much he can get involved though – he does tend to go missing at times – and he will need to demonstrate his underrated offloading game to unlock the stubborn Quins defence.

Key Battle

Nick Evans v Toby Flood.  For the first time in memory, Evans has been a wee bit patchy this season – sometimes he forgets his kicking boots and, apparently, half his rugby brain, whilst Flood is renowned for being great on the front foot but a bit scatty when going backwards.  Both will have big points to prove this game and it will be up to them to unleash the talent they have outside them when they get the chance.

Prediction

It all depends which Tigers team turns up.  The ex-Champions have coasted through this season barely getting out of 3rd gear, whilst the current-Champs blasted through the opening rounds before stuttering a bit recently.  If Leicester do show up, and it clicks, they could win well – but I don't think that will happen without Ben Youngs – instrumental to everything the Tigers do.  I think though, with Danny Care back, Quins look a much better side than they do without, and so I think they'll steal a tight game by about 5 points.

Let's see what's happening in the rest of this weekend's games:

 

Bath v London Irish: Irish will be feeling great after a fantastic victory over Saracens last weekend, but Bath have come into a bit of decent form of late and I expect them to win comfortably by about 12 points.

Saracens v Exeter Chiefs:  Sarries are at home – Allianz Park – for the first time this season and it will be interesting to see how both sides play on the artificial surface.  With both sides suffering surprise losses last week, I think Sarries will edge this by about 6 points.

Worcester Warriors v Northampton Saints:  Saints are going through a rotten patch at the moment, culminating in receiving a sound spanking from Gloucester last weekend at Franklin's Gardens.  Worcester, meanwhile, are notoriously tricky at home, so I'm plumping for a 4 point win to the home side.

London Wasps v Gloucester: Wasps have snuck up out of nowhere to gate crash the top 4 and have a great home record, whilst the Cherry and Whites will be full of beans after thumping Saints last week.  I think this could be a great game for the neutral, with 2 attacking sides, but I think Wasps will edge it by about 5 points.

 

Sale Sharks v London Welsh: Wow.  What an absolutely massive game this is.  If Sale win, they are right back in with a shout of staying up.  If they lose, it's almost thank you and goodnight.  Welsh, who have impressed no end of critics this season, know that a win here could almost seal their survival.  No pressure then.  Another big game at the opposite end of the table, I think Sale have crept into a little bit of form of late and will grab a win by 7 points.