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Gallagher Premiership

Leigh Halfpenny set for Harlequins debut with Marcus Smith on bench

By Josh Raisey

61 days ago

Leigh Halfpenny of Harlequins during the Pre-Season friendly match between Harlequins and London Scottish at The Stoop on September 07, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Leigh Halfpenny will make his competitive Harlequins debut on Sunday against Sale Sharks in the first round of the Gallagher Premiership.

The Welsh great will be one of two debutants at the Salford Community Stadium with Samoa tighthead Titi Lamositele also in the starting XV.

Following an intense summer with England and a limited pre-season as a result, flyhalf Marcus Smith has to contend with the bench.

Boks Office on why South Africa’s youth structure is brutal | RPTV

WATCH as the Boks Office crew share their views on why South African players are so sought after around the world. Watch the full episode on RugbyPass TV on Tuesday afternoon.

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Boks Office on why South Africa’s youth structure is brutal | RPTV

WATCH as the Boks Office crew share their views on why South African players are so sought after around the world. Watch the full episode on RugbyPass TV on Tuesday afternoon.

Watch Now

Jarrod Evans will start in the No10 jersey, completing a halfback partnership with Will Porter.

The match will be a milestone for flanker Jack Kenningham and winger Nick David, who will both make their 50th appearance for Quins.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Sale

12 - 11

Full-time

Harlequins

All Stats and Data

Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson said: “Sale is always a tough challenge, particularly at home, but we’re excited to start our season with a strong performance. The players have worked incredibly hard over pre-season, they’re ready for the challenge on Sunday and want to start the season on a positive note.”

Harlequins XV
1. Fin Baxter
2. Jack Walker
3. Titi Lamositele
4. Irne Herbst
5. Stephan Lewies
6. Jack Kenningham
7. Will Evans
8. Alex Dombrandt (Captain)
9. Will Porter
10. Jarrod Evans
11. Oscar Beard
12. Lennox Anyanwu
13. Luke Northmore
14. Nick David
15. Leigh Halfpenny

Replacements
16. Nathan Jibulu
17. Jordan Els
18. Simon Kerrod
19. Joe Launchbury
20. Dino Lamb
21. Danny Care
22. Marcus Smith
23. Cassius Cleaves

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Comments on RugbyPass

Bull Shark 10 minutes ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

You're outta here!

289 Go to comments

Bull Shark 10 minutes ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Yellow for you. Timeout.

Low risk of danger, so there won't be a bunker review.

289 Go to comments

Bull Shark 15 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

LOL. Tinfoil meet head.

17 Go to comments

Bull Shark 24 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Not true. I'm a South African and I absolutely loved seeing the Wallabies beating England. And miss the Wallabies of old who were a devastating force with some of the greatest players of all time.

I hear quite regularly that Australians prefer Aussie rules, league, and cricket over rugby.

So again, seems like Australians are to blame for the state of the game in Australia?

17 Go to comments

Bull Shark 31 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I find Ben Smith to be an emotionally driven hysteric. So I question everything he writes.

He launched into the year about the ABs being back this year. For a "journalist" his opinions are based on the flavour of the month.

He's at least gone quiet about how sh1t the boks actually are. Although I suspect he's working on an outrageous article to that effect as we speak, to drive engagement after the end of the Autumn series, as we'll all be taking a break until the 6N. Reading his drivel in between extended periods of alcohol and mince pie consumption, and low grade depression related to the lack of international rugby. Leading to more alcohol and mince pies.

22 Go to comments

Chesterfield 34 minutes ago

Michael Hooper reacts to Scott Barrett’s controversial late-game call

The dominant pack should be enforcing their superiority with maximum points and the psychological advantage of taking the lead.

You don’t get that by saying we’ll settle for three and try again you get it by scoring seven and trying again. Doesn’t come off every time?

No.

But if you’ve asserted dominance letting the opposition off and not trying to build a double score difference is wrong minded.

All blacks have traditionally played to build the unassailable lead not meekly win a single point victory.

11 Go to comments

Arnold 36 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

Aaah. Ben Smith. Ever the unbiased, objective rugby scribe......NOT.

Unable to give credit where it's due, other than for the ABs, especially when it comes to the Boks. His contempt for them is tangible. If you want to " Get Real" about these ABs Ben, consider when they last beat the Boks??? For us Bok fans, beating the ABs is the only true measure.

22 Go to comments

Reader76 55 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

"they [All Blacks] are nuggety and resourceful and don’t wilt. They are prepared to win the hard way, accumulating points by any means necessary."

Sounds like you're describing your arch-nemesis Ben 😁

22 Go to comments

CM 58 minutes ago

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

This article only shows a part of SBs failings as England Coach. Firstly his reputation st Leicester was false, his SA and Welsh players won the matches not his coaching prowess. He has Wigglesworth as attack coach, someone who rarely attacked when playing. His player selection is awful, ignoring form players and sticking with failed internationals. He picks players that he knows and will be easy to manage for him. What on earth is Slade doing when even for Exeter he does not make line breaks with steppping, pace or guile, why on earth are Cole,George,Steward,Ford,Iseweke and a few other anywhere near the Team. Borthwick is awful as Head Coach of England.

1 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 1 hour ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Good to be writing about a WB team that has beaten two 6 N sides in successive weeks, Brett.

Lolesio indeed is looking very comfortable under Schmidt coaching. He must feel as confident now as he was feeling in his spell at Toulon last year. It will be interesting to see how he does against Finn Russell.

30 Go to comments

J Marc 1 hour ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Your unterstanding of the relation FFR LNR, is far better than the one in the article. For Meafou, there is an article on Skelton saying he is totally indispensable in the australian game.

In France they are often compared, and french game is often, but not always ,based on this kind of number 5. But , there are a lot of kind of play in France and in the world, and it's a blessing, because otherwise, the game would be boring.

On my other post ,which you replied, my intention was to explain with some historics facts the main importance, in France, of the championship.

But ,once again, I would prefer 3 games in NZ , with the better french players.

289 Go to comments

Ninjin 1 hour ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I said before the November tests that the AB's should go smash some Nh teams to find their feet and it seems that is just what they did bar France. Could have should have always sucks. Better to look to the future.

22 Go to comments