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'It's like having a tighthead lock playing in the No12 jersey'

(Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Harlequins)

Harlequins assistant coach Jerry Flannery has paid Andre Esterhuizen an awesome tribute after the out-of-favour Springboks midfielder produced a powerhouse display to help the London club secure a dramatic late victory over Exeter Chiefs in the Gallagher Premiership on Saturday. The 27-year-old hasn’t been capped by his country since August 2019 but the English champions simply can’t get enough of the so-called ‘Agent of Chaos’ they have under contract through to 2025.  

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Despite pressurising an Exeter side that played the entire second half with just 14 players following a red card for Alec Hepburn on the blow of half-time, Harlequins found themselves trailing 12-7 with less than two minutes remaining. 

However, that scoreline was soon transformed into a thrilling 14-12 win, Esterhuizen sliding through the mud to score a converted Harlequins try in the corner after he caught a crossfield kick from Marcus Smith. 

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The centre then showcased his immense prowess in defence, turning over Exeter possession at the game’s final ruck to seal the win for Harlequins and ensure he was incredibly awarded the player of the match award for the third game in a row.  

Amid the post-mortem, lineout and defence coach Flannery popped up on BT Sport to sing the praises of a talisman whose stats showed four carries, 26 metres, one turnover won and four gainline successes.

“Look, the key for games like this is to make things a contest and Andre is a complete player,” enthused the coach about the South African. “His distribution, it is basically like having a tighthead lock playing in the 12 jersey who can catch and pass as good as anybody else. He has got a fantastic left foot on him as well. He has been outstanding for us. We are very, very lucky to have him.”

Esterhuizen was chuffed his efforts were recognised for the third weekend in succession, following on from his player of the match efforts versus Northampton and Gloucester. “I almost missed it [the turnover] just by milliseconds. To close the game out like that was pretty nice. I loved it. 

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“I am loving life at the moment. I never get these (awards) so to get three in a row is something for me. I am just very grateful. A lot of credit to the team. They do all the hard work. Sometimes I just run in through the gaps, so credit to them.”

Asked how Harlequins had managed to keep their composure rather than buckle when in arrears against an opposition down a man following a tip tackle that resulted in Joe Marler landing on his head, Esterhuizen added: “Whenever there is a red card or something in a game, the team relaxes a bit. 

“We just said we needed to up the focus, we need to put the pressure on them and keep them under that pressure. Alex (Dombrandt) spoke quite well under the posts, ‘Just stay calm, get there, trap them there, something will come. If we get the turnovers something will come’.

“It was a great game. It is always hard against Exeter. The weather didn’t play in anyone’s favour. A hard-fought victory. We let ourselves down a little bit in the second half when we had them on the ropes, just didn’t convert, but it is always great playing against them and always a tough challenge.”

  • Click here to see the winning converted try from The Stoop
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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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