Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'Jeepers, it's frustrating, especially the first half for us'

By PA
Harlequins' Nick Davis is red carded (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

Harlequins head coach Tabai Matson was delighted with his side’s 26-24 victory over local rivals London Irish, but was also left with shredded nerves after the final whistle. The London derby at the Twickenham Stoop twisted on multiple occasions, with the Exiles nudging ahead again after seeing a 14-0 half-time lead slip away during the second half.

ADVERTISEMENT

Add red cards for Irish’s Ben Donnell and Quins’ Nick David and there were already plenty of talking points before replacement hooker George Head snatched victory for the hosts with the clock almost five minutes into the red. “It’s great to watch as a fan, but as a coach, jeepers, it’s frustrating, especially the first half for us,” said Harlequins boss Matson.

“But ultimately it’s such a tight competition, this was never going to be an easy fixture, and to scrape away with a win in the 84th or 85th minute is probably the most important thing. Disappointingly, their second-half try looked really soft for us and we just made a couple of really poor defensive glitches and they are sharp.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

“One of the things I admire about them is that they are good in the wider channels, but we stayed in the fight and we talk about the composure at the end when you are getting reds and yellows and people are playing in different positions. It’s really tough so to be composed right at the end and get the win, there will be a few pats on the back.”

London Irish seized the initiative and led 21-7 early in the second half through tries by So’otala Fa’aso’o, Donnell and Ollie Hassell-Collins, with Tommy Allan replying for Harlequins. Donnell had been sent off before Alex Dombrandt and Allan levelled the match, with David’s red coming before Paddy Jackson’s penalty put the Exiles ahead again, only for Head to deny them at the death.

Related

London Irish director of rugby Declan Kidney said: “When you lose in the last play of the game it is disappointing, but what you have to do as professionals is let the emotions settle and deal with it. We know there are lots of things we can do better, but you can’t be that disappointed if you are that close.

“We were well out of the blocks but there are parts we can do better. It is very disappointing and there were lots of little bits in the last couple of minutes where the emotions were yo-yoing, so we have to take a look at what we can do better. When the emotion settles you come off and everyone is talking about the last couple of plays of the game, but what you have to do is look at the whole.”

ADVERTISEMENT

On the sendings-off, Kidney added: “They were for similar incidents, so there was a consistency.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

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
LONG READ
LONG READ “He’s given Connacht everything” – Bundee Aki’s future, and an exciting tactical innovation “He’s given Connacht everything” – Bundee Aki’s future, and an exciting tactical innovation
Search