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The 'very strategic' variation Harlequins are getting heads around

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Tabai Matson has painted this Sunday’s clash between his English title-winning Harlequins and the French title-chasing Montpellier as a conflict of philosophies he can’t wait to encounter. Fresh from swatting aside London Irish in the Premiership, Quins are braced for a very different type of challenge in their two-legged round of 16 Heineken Champions Cup encounter against the Top 14 pace-setters. 

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It’s an obstacle that Matson is intrigued by and his squad have gone to great lengths on the training ground in Guildford to try and replicate the challenge that awaits at the GGL Stadium before the return game six days later at the Stoop. Montpellier dragged the European tournament into the mud with the brutal way they surrendered 89-7 away to Leinster in Dublin twelve weeks ago.

However, they picked off Exeter the following week at home to book their Champions Cup progress and have since gone on to win six and draw one of their nine recent French league matches to lead that competition by five points with four games remaining before the playoffs. It’s a flourish that naturally didn’t escape the attention of Matson, whose style of game with Harlequins is at the opposite end of the spectrum compared to how Montpellier go about their business of winning matches.

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“One of the fantastic things about them is you kind of watch them out of the corner of your eye because you are not quite sure and when you go back and review their last few games, one of the things I love about watching the French game is there is just so much variation,” enthused Matson when quizzed by RugbyPass at his round of 16 media briefing.

“People try different things. There tends to be a real variation in the way the game is played. The Premiership is really pragmatic. We get teams that kick a lot as well. Saracens kick a stack load compared to the likes of us and Exeter, so when you see Montpellier and see they have 50 more kicks than any other team in the Top 14, it’s not an anomaly. It’s something very strategic that you have got to get your head around.”

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Matson has made just a single change to his starting XV from the comfortable win over Irish, recalling Louis Lynagh to start on the wing in place of Luke Northmore. “Louis has got a really important day because if we can diffuse one of their biggest strengths we will be able to put them under pressure,” he continued. “Their defence is strong and it is on the back of their kicking game. Strategically we have got to get that diffusing of their bomb sorted. They have got one of the best half-backs maybe in the world kicking the ball so we have to get that part right otherwise we will have a very long day at the office.”

So then, what have Harlequins been up to on the training ground under Matson to prepare for the aerial assault that is coming their way? “It’s the non-23, they have an important job for us on weeks like this making sure they are as close to Montpellier as we can get them and making sure we want to play to the true Quins style.

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“We want to make sure we move the ball, put them under pressure with ball in hand and we do what we normally do which is keep the ball alive, make linebreaks, score tries. We won’t beat Montpellier at Montpellier’s game as we have never beaten Leicester at Leicester’s game and we have never beaten Saracens at Saracens’ game. That is the beauty, that is the exciting challenge, a conflict of philosophies of the game with these guys, so it is going to be awesome fun.” 

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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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