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Chris Ashton returns for Harlequins in his 'Toulon position'

Chris Ashton /Getty Images

Harlequins Head of Rugby Paul Gustard has named the team to travel to Gloucester this weekend as Chris Ashton returns to fitness to start at fullback, his position of choice at Toulon.

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Returning to fitness, Ashton starts in the fullback jersey in place of the rested Mike Brown, alongside wingers Cadan Murley and Nathan Earle, in an otherwise unchanged backline from the side that travelled to Northampton.

“It’s great to see Chris Ashton, like James, return from injury this week. We’re looking forward to seeing him play in the absence of one of our standout performers last week in Mike Brown, who is rested this week against Gloucester,” said Harlequins boss Gustard.

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Ashton excelled at fullback for Toulon, breaking the Top 14 season try record, largely from 15.

Harlequins travel to Gloucester in the search for back-to-back wins at Kingsholm Stadium, having claimed a 28-15 win in round 20 of the 2019/20 season earlier this year.

Number eight Alex Dombrandt leads the side once more with regular Club captain Stephan Lewies narrowly missing out through injury, with the back row having captained Quins during a record-breaking 49-29 victory over Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens last weekend.

In the pack, flanker James Chisholm is rotated into the side at blindside having featured from the bench last time out, with Tom Lawday rotating into the side’s Impact Players this weekend.

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Also amongst the Impact Players, Samoa international hooker Elia Elia returns to the matchday 23 having served a suspension for receiving a red card against Wasps towards the end of the 2019/20 season.

“Stephan Lewies just misses out on selection this time around due to injury. In his absence, we felt that Alex [Dombrandt] did a magnificent job captaining the team in a good performance last weekend against Northampton Saints, so he will once again wear the captain’s arm band,” said Gustard. “James Chisholm is rotated in at six for the outstanding Tom Lawday, who moves to the Impact Players on rotation as James continues his rehabilitation from the injury that ruled him out of the final two games of last season.

Harlequins Starting XV:
1.Santiago Garcia Botta (24)
2.Scott Baldwin (20)
3. Wilco Louw (6)
4. Matt Symons (46)
5. Glen Young (22)
6. James Chisholm (98)
7. Will Evans (23)
8. Alex Dombrandt (54) – Captain
9. Danny Care (285)
10. Marcus Smith (88)
11. Cadan Murley (36)
12. Andre Esterhuizen (7)
13. Luke Northmore (10)
14. Nathan Earle (32)
15. Chris Ashton (6)

Impact Players:
16. Elia Elia (54)
17. Jordan Els (4)
18. Simon Kerrod (30)
19. Hugh Tizard (2)
20. Tom Lawday (20)
21. Scott Steele (8)
22. Tyrone Green (1)
23. Paul Lasike (26)

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Unavailable for selection:
Joe Marler, Joe Marchant

Unavailable due to injury:
Joe Gray, George Head, Craig Trenier, Will Collier, Dino Lamb, Tevita Cavubati, Stephan Lewies, Martin Landajo, Brett Herron, Michele Campagnaro, Aaron Morris

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AM 42 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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