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Harlequins suffer Champions Cup thumping at hands of Racing 92

By PA
PA

Harlequins’ hopes of making an impression on the Champions Cup campaign came to a brutal end as they were crushed 49-7 by Racing 92 at The Stoop.

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A week after falling short in Munster, Paul Gustard’s side were overrun across the field and after two Pool B outings they have yet to register a point with final group games against Racing and Munster to come.

Harlequins v Racing 92 - European Champions Cup - Pool 2 - Twickenham Stoop

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Ryan Wilson Christmas

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Ryan Wilson Christmas

It took until the 60th minute to register a point when replacement scrum-half Scott Steele finished a well-orchestrated move that heavily involved Marcus Smith, but by that time last season’s runners-up already had the bonus point sewn up.

Finn Russell was irrepressible as he delved into his box of tricks to keep the home side guessing, but the standout moments were thrilling tries by Teddy Thomas and Simon Zebo.

Quins were battered at every turn and apart from Steele’s try, they never threatened Parisian opposition who have now placed one foot in the quarter-finals and on this evidence will be challenging at the business end of the tournament.

Harlequins v Racing 92 - European Champions Cup - Pool 2 - Twickenham Stoop

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Racing pounced with a stunning finish by Thomas in only the third minute, but the France wing was helped by some feeble defending that invited him through the fringes of a line-out.

Thomas still had work to do but an arching run swept him around a static Quins backline that failed to lay a hand on him.

Racing used brute force at the next attacking line-out as they drove over with ease for hooker Kevin Le Guen to touch down and with scrum-half Maxime Machenaud on target from the kicking tee, it was already looking grim for the home side.

Harlequins v Racing 92 - European Champions Cup - Pool 2 - Twickenham Stoop

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Russell had already produced a range of kicks to keep Quins retreating and as the first quarter ended the lead had stretched to a worrying 20 points.

The one-way traffic was stemmed when neat interchange between forwards Joe Marler and Dominic Bird sent Joe Marchant through a gap but a knock-on halted the move and a promising spell ended when Danny Care was penalised for crossing.

Racing dominated the rest of the first half without making any further impact on the scoreboard but that changed just 37 seconds after the interval when an unprotected blindside was ruthlessly exploited.

Care’s box kick was caught by Zebo and the Ireland full-back raced upfield, interchanged with wing Donovan Taofifenua and strolled across the whitewash for another easy try.

Harlequins v Racing 92 - European Champions Cup - Pool 2 - Twickenham Stoop

Once again a running score was followed up with a forward surge as replacement prop Georges-Henri Colombe touched down when a driving maul arrowed infield from the line-out.

To compound Quins’ escalating misery, Steele was sin-binned and soon after Taofifenua caught Russell’s kick to touch down.

Steele finished a dashing attack down the left as the home side hit back but it was only a brief interruption to the flow of play as Teddy Baubigny and Francois Trinh-Duc scored tries to complete the rout.

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Bull Shark 1 hour ago
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

Why is Joe Schmidt the best option for Australia? (LONG READ)


An essay for @OJohn with love from South Africa.


OJohn keeps banging on about kiwis and Saffers and everyone else seeking to undermine and bring down Australian rugby… Blah, Blah, Blah. It’s boring and not worth responding too 99 days out of 100.


He misses the point completely that Australians either are or are not the masters of their own destiny. So to blame anyone else but themselves for what the state of Australian rugby is in - is hypocritical.


But recently, Australia has shown signs of life. Personally, I always believed they would be back at some point. At the beginning of this year I predicted that the wallabies would bounce back this year. I predicted that they would overtake England in the world rankings. I am predicting that they could finish second in the RC, could win the Lions series and could make it to a RWC final at home.


I tend to get ahead of myself when I’m excited... Ask my wife. But forgive me for getting excited about the Wallabies looking good! Is it so bad?


Like OJohn, I believe that Australia’s lands abound with natures gifts, including athletic specimens across any sporting code the Aussies compete in. It’s one of the reasons most of us don’t like Aussies. They win sh1t. Regularly. And look smug when they do...


But back to OJohn. And his banging on about the need for Australia to have an Australian coach. Here are a few highlights of his argument:


Several times I've given a list of half a dozen Australian coaches who would be more Australian than Schmidt and just as successful.

Tell me which Australian coaches would be acceptable to coach the All Blacks ......?

Because South Africans and Kiwis and Welshmen and Scotsman are all s.... scared that if an immensely talented and athletic team like Australia is ever able to harness nationalistic Australian passion with an Australian coach, you'll all be s.c.r.e.w.e.d.


And then finally – the list of 6 🥴:


Ewen McKenzie, Less Kiss, Stephen Larkham, Jim McKay, David Nucifora, Scott Wisenthal, Ben Mowen, Rod Kafer, Mick Byrne, John Manetti, Jason Gilmore, Dan McKellar.

Plus, a special request:


Keep in mind Rod MacQueen never won a Super Rugby title before he was appointed Wallaby coach but he ended up the greatest rugby coach the world has ever seen. Better than Erasmus even. Who is probably the next best.

Right. I don’t care about the tinfoil hat theories. I want to assess OJohn’s list and determine whether any of them fit the mold of a Rod Macqueen.

 

Like Rod Macqueen the following world cup winning coaches never won a Super Rugby Title:


·       David Kirk, 1987 (17 appearances for New Zealand)

·       Kitch Kristie, 1995

·       Rod Macqueen, 1999

·       Clive Woodward, 2003 (21 Appearance for England)

·       Jake White, 2007 (School Teacher)

·       Graham Henry, 2011 (School Teacher)

·       Steve Hansen, 2015 (Policeman)

·       Rassie Erasmus, 2019 (36 Appearances for South Africa)

·       Jacques Nienaber, 2023 (Physiotherapist).


I couldn't find out what Rod or Kitch did other than coach.


The only coach who has won a Super title and a World Cup?

·       Bob Dwyer, 1991 (A Tahs man wouldn’t you know!)


In fact coaches that have won super rugby titles have not won world cups. Robbie Deans. Heyneke Meyer to name just two.


I know I’m being childish, but I needed to bring this list in somehow because it’s quite obvious that whatever these coaches did before they became international level coaches is largely immaterial. Or is it?


Interestingly Ewan McKenzie (A Tah Man!) has won a Super title. And despite being a Tah Man made it into OJohn’s list. That’s two strikes for Ewan Mckenzie based on OJohn’s criteria so far. Not to mention his 50% win rate as head coach of the Wallabies between 2013 and 2014 (and the laundry list of off the field fcuk ups that swirled around the team at the time).


So Ewan is out.


I find it interesting that, as we speak, eight out of the ten top ranked men’s teams are coached by former international players:

1.      South Africa, Rassie Erasmus (36 appearances for South Africa)

2.      Ireland, Andy Farrell (8 appearances for England)

3.      New Zealand, Scott Robertson (23 appearances for New Zealan)

4.      France, Fabien Galthie (64 appearances for France)

5.      Argentina, Felipe Contemponi (87 appearances for Argentina)

6.      Scotland, Gregor Townsend (82 appearances for Scotland)

7.      England, Steve Borthwick (57 appearances for England)

8.      Australia, Joe Schmidt (School Teacher)

9.      Fiji, Michael Byrne (Aussie Rules Player)

10.  Italy, Gonzalo Quesada (38 appearances for Argentina).


It would appear as though we have entered an era where successful international coaches, largely, have played rugby at international level in the professional era. Or are ex school teachers. Much like Jake White and Graham Henry! Or a policeman.

 

Back to OJohn’s List. That leaves us with:


·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jim McKay, (Very little to write home about)

·       David Nucifora, (Too old)

·       Scott Wisenthal, (I literally can’t find anything on him on the Google).

·       Ben Mowen, (Too young, no coaching experience)

·       Rod Kafer, (No coaching experience)

·       Mick Byrne, (He’s coaching the Fijians, Aussie rules!)

·       John Manetti, (Can’t find him on the google)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)

·       Dan McKellar, (Not much to write home about, but could be an option).


Applying some logic, I would say the following are viable options based on age, experience in coaching AND the fact that they have played rugby for Australia in the professional era:

·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)


After having done all this research, I think it’s fair to say that none of these three have the same pedigree as Joe Schmidt, the teacher. Who took a sh1tty Ireland team to no.1. Won a few 6 Nations and helped get the All Blacks to a world cup final in 2023.


Joe’s the best option for now. But if Kiss, Larkham and Gilmore are the business for the future for Australia get them in now as assistants to Joe and stop moaning!!


Errors and Ommissions Excepted. Mispelling of names is OJohn's fault.

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LONG READ 'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame' 'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'
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