HEC: Connacht V Harlequins,Pool 3 Round 2, sportsground sat 20th Oct @6pm live SS

seanin4711

HI all!
Lets hope connacht can ruin quins buzz yet again!
Gwan connacht!

Quins update
When Harlequins lost the services of their goal-kicking inspiration at outside half, Nick Evans, in Round 1 they had to throw into the fray their new recruit Ben Botica to make his European debut against Amlin Challenge Cup holders Biarritz Olympique.
As Heineken Cup debuts go the 23-year-old was cool as a cucumber as he contributed 18 points to his side's 40-13 win over a very familiar club. Both Ben, with the Under 21s, and his father, ex-New Zealand outside half Frano, both played for the French outfit.

After such a confident start, in which he helped Quins score 27 unanswered points in the second half, he could well get the nod for the trip to Galway this weekend for Round 2 against Connacht if fellow Kiwi Evans is ruled out.

Frano managed 23 appearances in the Heineken Cup in the late nineties and early eighties after leaving Wigan Rugby League club. He started at the Scarlets before heading to France to link up with Biarritz.

He scored 258 points in 23 appearances in the tournament and was as big a hit on the Heineken Cup debut with Biarritz in 2000/01 as his son was last weekend with harlequins. He kicked 17 points in a 37-30 home win over reigning champions Northampton Saints and helped to steer Biarritz into the quarter-finals for the first time.

He kicked a record 25 points in the away win over Edinburgh that season and certainly left an imprint on the tournament before returning to New Zealand on retirement. The Farrells, Andy and Owen at Saracens, may have beaten the Boticas to the Heineken Cup 'family double', but it looks as though the new father and son team could become a major rival for top billing.

"My old man taught me how to kick, but if you're not playing well teams aren't going to pick you - no matter who your father was or what your last name is," said Botica.

"I wasn't nervous at all - for some reason it just felt good. Now I just want to play consistently for Harlequins and take my chances when they come.

"It was probably the biggest game of my life. If I was younger I guess I would have felt a bit more nervous but I felt so good out there.

"The boys you have around you are constantly chatting and they make the No 10s job so much easier. I'm learning quite a bit from Nick and I'm pretty much just waiting for my opportunity and I'm glad that I got a chance to show my stuff against Biarritz."

As the holder of a British passport he might even attract the attentions of the English selectors if he continues to improve. Playing for England is one thing his father couldn't't boast of doing, although he did play for New Zealand, the ANZAC XV and Croatia in rugby Union and New Zealand in rugby league.

Botica jnr singed for Quins on a two-year deal in April from North Harbour. Conor O'Shea liked what he saw and his view of his new signing's European debut was on the button: "Like father, like son!"

Robbo

Injury update.

In the "Dab of the magic sponge, be grand" column are: Eoin Griffin, Robbie Henshaw, Ethienne Reynecke, Dave McSharry and George Naoupu.

I think it's likely to see the same lineup as last week, maybe Wilkinson in for Rodney. The B&I Cup seems to be stretching things slightly but I'd rather Rodney get 80 mins and build his game there than spend 30 collapsing scrums against Quins.

Digifriendly

Just to remind viewers that this match is on the red button. Fascinating encounter with no Nick Evans. Can Connacht repeat the heroics of last January? Harelquins may be more forewarned this time but if they treat their opponents lightly could be in for another shock. I get the feeling they may just sneak this but a bit like the US Presidential race at present - too close to call.

bamboozle

much as i want to see a connacht win i reckon Quins will come tomorrow baying for blood after the HC hopes were ruined here last season...i cant see Connacht getting a losing bonus point....hope to be proven wrong though.

.ak

Digifriendly wrote: »

I get the feeling they may just snaek this but a bit like the US Presidential race at present - too close to call.

... is féidir linn?

justsomebloke

I'm afraid I can't see anything other than a Harlequins win here, but hopefully I'm wrong.

After Last years result I can see Harlequins being a lot more clinical in their approach and the revenge on the team that knocked them out last year

leftleg

justsomebloke wrote: »

I'm afraid I can't see anything other than a Harlequins win here, but hopefully I'm wrong.

After Last years result I can see Harlequins being a lot more clinical in their approach and the revenge on the team that knocked them out last year

Well wait and see; word on the street is "nuk" is injured for quins, as far as i know the drop off from first choice to replacement fly half at quins is fairly large; Clegg as far as i know has the dubious honour of being Evans replacement

irishbucsfan

Rory Clegg is a good player. Botica could start either. Both are good players. They're not in Nick Evans' league but then not many players are.

Aidric

Digifriendly wrote: »

I get the feeling they may just sneak this

Based on what?

leftleg

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Rory Clegg is a good player. Botica could start either. Both are good players. They're not in Nick Evans' league but then not many players are.

which is exactly what i said..big drop off between 1st choice and replacements >> no slight on quins though... i really like the game they play. easy on the eye.

Tox56

The replacements for Evans are decent, and Botica looks like a talent, but Evans is what makes them tick.

Difficult away game, possibly in tricky conditions, against fired up and stubborn opponents can be very dangerous, as Quins discovered last year. Evans being out makes a huge difference.

dropkickrugby

if clegg starts its game ball for connacht, he's not that good.. Quins play right around the ruck area, popping offloads more often than going wide. If COnnacht can stop it at source there, anything could happen - hopefully Elwood will have his charges target George Lowe wherever he is on the park - i've seen milk turn faster....

Robbo

Surprisingly the forecast for Saturday is dry and not much wind.

Not much to add from the Advertiser today other than Wilkinson will be in the mix so Rodney's playing in Athlone.

billybonds

Clegg starting ahead of Botica would be much better news for Connacht I'd imagine.

Will be a fascinating game nevertheless but after last year, you'd have to fancy Quins to see it through.

Deano7788

dropkickrugby wrote: »

if clegg starts its game ball for connacht, he's not that good.. Quins play right around the ruck area, popping offloads more often than going wide. If COnnacht can stop it at source there, anything could happen - hopefully Elwood will have his charges target George Lowe wherever he is on the park - i've seen milk turn faster....

If he's actually at the match I would hope they won't target him as he'd either be in the stands or water boy. He's out for six weeks after undergoing ankle surgery at the start of the month. I'd say Mat Hopper will be 13.

porterbelly

Team that will be announced at lunchtime is:

1. Buckley
2. Flavin
3. White
4. Swift
5. McCarthy
6. Muldoon
7. O Connor
8. Naoupu
9. Marmion
10. Parks
11. Vainikolo
12. McSharry
13. Griffin
14. O'Halloran
15. Henshaw

16. Harris Wright
17. Wilkinson
18. Loughney
19. Gannon
20. Faloon
21. Moore
22. Nikora
23. Fifita


Reyneke injured

porterbelly

Faloon ahead of JOC, heard it was other way round. Anyway

5. Mike Brown
14. Tom Williams
13. Matt Hopper
12. Jordan Turner-Hall
11. Sam Smith
10. Ben Botica
9. Danny Care

1. Joe Marler
2. Rob Buchanan
3. James Johnston
4. Olly Kohn
5. George Robson
6. Maurie Fa'asavalu
7. Chris Robshaw (C)
8. Nick Easter

Replacements

16. Dave Ward
17. Mark Lambert
18. Will Collier
19. Charlie Matthews
20. Tom Guest
21. Karl Dickson
22. Rory Clegg
23. Seb Stegmann


15 Robbie Henshaw

14 Tiernan O’Halloran

13 Eoin Griffin

12 Dave McSharry

11 Fetu’u Vainikolo

10 Dan Parks

9 Kieran Marmion

1 Denis Buckley

2 Adrian Flavin

3 Nathan White (C)

4 Michael Swift

5 Mike McCarthy

6 John Muldoon

7 Willie Faloon

8 George Naoupu

Replacements (from):

16 Jason Harris-Wright

17 Brett Wilkinson

18 Ronan Loughney

19 Dave Gannon

20 Johnny O’Connor

21 Dave Moore

22 Miah Nikora

23 Mata Fifita

Digifriendly

Aidric wrote: »

Based on what?

Think Harelquins may be better prepared than last January when Connacht were on a long losing streak and the 'Quins were caught out by a passionate performance by the Westies on a wet and windy Galway night. Same thing could happen again but I think Harelquins will be more wary of their opponents this time round. But as I stated in earlier post - too close to call.

freyners

Cant wait for this, best memory of last season was this game, hopefully it will be the same come tomorrow night

its_phil

Digifriendly wrote: »

Think Harelquins may be better prepared than last January when Connacht were on a long losing streak and the 'Quins were caught out by a passionate performance by the Westies on a wet and windy Galway night. Same thing could happen again but I think Harelquins will be more wary of their opponents this time round. But as I stated in earlier post - too close to call.

I'm sorry I didn't realize a Tallaght drug gang played Harlequins last year, but I think Connacht did?

Hagz

Who the hell is Ben Botica and where the hell is Nick Evans?

CIARAN_BOYLE

Hagz wrote: »

Who the hell is Ben Botica and where the hell is Nick Evans?

Botica is the third choice fly-half Evans and Clegg are injured

Fireball07

Hagz wrote: »

Who the hell is Ben Botica and where the hell is Nick Evans?

Evans got injured last week, and Botica is the guy who came on for him, apparently he played really well. Scored 18 points and they got 5 tries altogether.

porterbelly

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Botica is the third choice fly-half Evans and Clegg are injured

2nd choice. He's ahead of Clegg and better than him. Clegg is on the bench

CIARAN_BOYLE

porterbelly wrote: »

2nd choice. He's ahead of Clegg and better than him. Clegg is on the bench

sorry my mistake

by the way Botica is the son of Croatian international and All Black Frano Botica.

Frano also has international caps for the Kiwis in league

Digifriendly

its_phil wrote: »

I'm sorry I didn't realize a Tallaght drug gang played Harlequins last year, but I think Connacht did?

According to Wikipedia they're from Blanchardstown.

Funk It

Hagz wrote: »

Who the hell is Ben Botica and where the hell is Nick Evans?

He looked very good off the bench last weekend, a lovely no look chip nearly worked, looks like one to watch, so don't under estimate an Evans-less Quins side too much.

Tox56

Exciting Connacht backline, this season is probably the first time I've looked down a Connacht team sheet and have been struggling to find a weak link. Good blend of youth and experience in the starting team, and the likes of JHW, Wilkinson, Loughney and JOC on the bench.

wp_rathead

Tox56 wrote: »

Exciting Connacht backline, this season is probably the first time I've looked down a Connacht team sheet and have been struggling to find a weak link. Good blend of youth and experience in the starting team, and the likes of JHW, Wilkinson, Loughney and JOC on the bench.

Vainikolo and at Hooker is only real weakness for me in this team
havn't been to impressed with what I'v seen of JHW so far, but in fairness that has been very little so hopfully he proves to be the real deal over the season

I like Vainikolo, but he is to error prone and bit of a liability (esp under the high ball, im sure O'Shea has his homework done and he'll be targeted all night)

This is a night for Parks to pull the strings
If Marimon puts in good display here against powerful Quins pack, could be an outside shout for extended squad (especially way Murray been playing)

I thought JOC would start, with Willi coming on at the end for the mobility but it is nice to have the option of two quality opensides

Looking forward to White Vs Marler in the scrum:cool:

cgpg5

Watched Quins last week Botica played a blinder in second half alright, he's no Evans indeed but better than Clegg. Hopper was very good too last week, JTH poor and one-dimensional do not rate him. Monye a loss too although I think QUins will definitely have too much wouldn't rule out the 4 try bonus

Zzippy

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/2012101983056/increased-capacity-due-to-phenomenal-demand

Over 7,500 tickets sold so far so additional terracing going in tomorrow morning, should be over 8,000 there for the game

Can't wait for this!! :cool:

connemara man

Change to Connacht line up

Forwards replacement Dave Gannon, who has been struggling with a flu all week, has been ruled out of today’s Heineken Cup clash with Harlequins following a fitness test early this morning.

He will be replaced on the bench by fit again Eoin McKeon who has started in three RaboDirect PRO12 games this season.

Zzippy

connemara man wrote: »

Change to Connacht line up

Forwards replacement Dave Gannon, who has been struggling with a flu all week, has been ruled out of today’s Heineken Cup clash with Harlequins following a fitness test early this morning.

He will be replaced on the bench by fit again Eoin McKeon who has started in three RaboDirect PRO12 games this season.

McKeon was listed to play for the Eagles last night, I presume he was pulled from the squad, does anyone know? He'd hardly be fit for the bench tonight if he played yesterday!

Tomtom364

Zzippy wrote: »

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/2012101983056/increased-capacity-due-to-phenomenal-demand

Over 7,500 tickets sold so far so additional terracing going in tomorrow morning, should be over 8,000 there for the game

Can't wait for this!! :cool:

Have to love that tbf.

Oh Jaysus we have sold all the tickets...
We'll build some more terraces in the morning, be grand xD

Id say some other clubs would love that flexibility in a ground xD

ANXIOUS

Anybody have any spares, they want to sell? Don't want to head down to find out its sold out.

Bassfish

Can anyone recommend a pub in Dublin to watch the match? Besides the woolshed

Hagz

A little over 10 minutes to go now. Come on Connacht!

mr_edge_to_you

Any find it difficult to watch on tv with grey and white jerseys?

gally74

Try

Hoki

thought this was on sky,all i see is exeter

ssaye

Hoki wrote: »

thought this was on sky,all i see is exeter

red button

shortys94

7-3 Connacht

gally74

10 6 conn

Mal-Adjusted

13-9 now.
commentators are **** themselves over Harlequins

CIARAN_BOYLE

16-9 now

ray jay

Connacht looking good so far, 19-9.

whatawaster

This is fantastic rugby

CIARAN_BOYLE

Connacht looking good today 19-9 now

Fireball07

Connacht are playing brilliantly.

19-9 now

gally74

Mcsharry and Buckley should be a I, henshaw only 19

Fireball07

Too easy for Care