Harlequins v Ulster Sat Jan 20 1pm KO TNT Sports 2

[justinr73]

Yeah, lose your first three and still go through…!

[justinr73]

Someone keep me right here.

We are safe for the Challenge cup unless
a) Cardiff win, Racing get two bonus points and we lose to Quins without a bonus point
b) Cardiff and Racing draw with a bonus point each and we lose by more than 60 points (!)

We can stay in the Champions cup if
a) we get at least two points, Racing don't get a bonus point and we score at least 8 points more than Racing

... or something like that.

Lots of possibilities but a fair assumption is R92 get max points v Cardiff and Ulster will drop into Challenge Cup if they don't win at Quins.

Racing play Cardiff at 3:15pm on the Saturday so our status will be sorted by 5pm basically.

Will probably be the Sunday before any opponent in R16 of either Cup is known.

If we end up in the Challenge Cup, we’ll be seeded 9-12.

[jean valjean]

Someone keep me right here.

We are safe for the Challenge cup unless
a) Cardiff win, Racing get two bonus points and we lose to Quins without a bonus point
b) Cardiff and Racing draw with a bonus point each and we lose by more than 60 points (!)

We can stay in the Champions cup if
a) we get at least two points, Racing don't get a bonus point and we score at least 8 points more than Racing

... or something like that.

Lots of possibilities but a fair assumption is R92 get max points v Cardiff and Ulster will drop into Challenge Cup if they don't win at Quins.

Racing play Cardiff at 3:15pm on the Saturday so our status will be sorted by 5pm basically.

Will probably be the Sunday before any opponent in R16 of either Cup is known.

If we end up in the Challenge Cup, we’ll be seeded 9-12.

And away from home to one of those placed 5-8

[jean valjean]

Yall be on your best behaviour now!!

https://www.quins.co.uk/article/harlequ ... X4Vll3kY8A

[Neill_M]

Someone keep me right here.

We are safe for the Challenge cup unless
a) Cardiff win, Racing get two bonus points and we lose to Quins without a bonus point
b) Cardiff and Racing draw with a bonus point each and we lose by more than 60 points (!)

We can stay in the Champions cup if
a) we get at least two points, Racing don't get a bonus point and we score at least 8 points more than Racing

... or something like that.

Lots of possibilities but a fair assumption is R92 get max points v Cardiff and Ulster will drop into Challenge Cup if they don't win at Quins.

Racing play Cardiff at 3:15pm on the Saturday so our status will be sorted by 5pm basically.

Will probably be the Sunday before any opponent in R16 of either Cup is known.

If we end up in the Challenge Cup, we’ll be seeded 9-12.

And away from home to one of those placed 5-8

Indeed 5 v 12, 6 v 11, 7 v 10 and 8 v 9.

9 being the best 5th placed side etc. 5th 2nd best 2nd, 6th 3rd best 2nd. 7th best 3rd and 8th 2nd best 3rd.

[Bart S]

Good to see McCloskey saying ahead of the game that he doesn't want to be playing in the Challenge Cup.

Ending up there would represent a failure

[jean valjean]

Good to see McCloskey saying ahead of the game that he doesn't want to be playing in the Challenge Cup.

Ending up there would represent a failure

An honest but stupid comment in my view. It's alright having that opinion in private but it will be put to him again if we manage to make the later stages in the challenge Cup.

[Dave]

Good to see McCloskey saying ahead of the game that he doesn't want to be playing in the Challenge Cup.

Ending up there would represent a failure

Don't worry the team will play like they don't want to be there anyway.

[Neill_M]

Harlequins 23:

1. Joe Marler (275) 2. Jack Walker (53) 3. Will Collier (232) 4. Irne Herbst (36) 5. George Hammond (55) 6. Chandler Cunningham-South (10) 7. Will Evans (79) 8. Alex Dombrandt (129 - Captain) 9. Danny Care (367) 10. Marcus Smith (150) 11. Cameron Anderson (6) 12. Andre Esterhuizen (80) 13. Oscar Beard (45) 14. Nick David (46) 15. Tyrone Green (65)

16. Sam Riley (43) 17. Fin Baxter (40) 18. Dillon Lewis (10) 19. Joe Launchbury (15) 20. Archie White (68) 21. Will Porter (15) 22. Lennox Anyanwu (20) 23. Will Joseph (10)

Not available for selection (injury): Luke Northmore, Jack Kenningham, Cadan Murley, Jarrod Evans, Cassius Cleaves, Dino Lamb, Stephan Lewies, James Chisholm

[Neill_M]

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney;

(1-8) Steven Kitshoff, Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson (C), Matty Rea, David McCann, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: John Andrew, Andy Warwick, Marty Moore, Harry Sheridan, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Luke Marshall, Will Addison.

[thecrouch]

I assume in reality it'll be Timoney at 7 and McCann at 8?

Either way, happy with this selection, and happy to see McFarland has found Harry Sheridan again.

[pip14]

Strong team. Would start Sheridan and Addison but apart from that pretty good. At least McFarland has seen a bit of sense

[jean valjean]

Decent enough side, hopefully McCann picks up where he left off. Not expecting anything other than a loss but we will be allowed to play a bit so let's see what we can do.

[Big-al]

I assume in reality it'll be Timoney at 7 and McCann at 8?

Either way, happy with this selection, and happy to see McFarland has found Harry Sheridan again.

McCann is more of a threat at the breakdown, Timoney is more explosive off a scrum.

I think they have it the correct way around.

[Aird]

From previous matches it would seem that. Timoney and McCann will interchange depending on the circumstances so just be glad both are fit and able to play.
I would be more worried about the 6 rather than either of them.