Match Day - Quins

Match day is here again but today is super special.  Not only is it the last home game of the 2012/2013 Aviva Premiership season, it is the first game since the departure of Richard Hill.  Though this game is not being managed by Dean Ryan, there have been some changes in approach already.

The Team

1.   Mullan

2.   Shervington

3.   Murray

4.   Percival (c)

5.   Jones

6.   Best

7.   Kvesic

8.   Taulava

9.   Arr

10. Goode

11. Howard

12. Clarke

13. Grove

14. Drauniniu

15. Pennell

Replacements: Lutui, O'Donnell, Andress, Gillies, Abbott, Perry, Gray, Carlisle 

There are many aspects of this team that stand out, here are the important numbers

1 - Ben Howard's first Premiership Cap.  Although Ben tends to play as a full back, today will see him make his debut on the wing, in place of David Lemi.

3 - The number of points that separated the teams when we last played, November 2012 ending 22 - 19

4 - Warriors highest number of Conversions in a Premiership game.  Against Harlequins in 2004  Source: Offy Site

5 - Craig Gillies makes his return to the match day squad, at the expense of out of fitness, form and favour, Dean Schofield.  There are many other numbers than can be used for Gillies, not least; 288th game for Warriors, 203cm tall (6'8"), 12 times a replacement this season, the list goes on  

7 - Players that will not play again at Sixways as Warriors. Today we get to say goodbye to the likes of Kvesic, Goode and Lutui though there are a few more guys leaving that will not get the chance to say goodbye.

10 - We have selected three 10's today; Goode, Gray and Carlisle.  Though Carlisle, also playing his last home game game as a Warrior, will no doubt be covering 12.

100 - This signifies a massive achievement by Chris Pennell, as I reported in January 2013 the former captain who suffers from type 1 diabetes, is making his 100th Warriors appearance at the age of 26 (27 in a few days time)

Of the many guys leaving Sixways this season, there is one that will not be there today to say good-bye, Big Dave. 

 Tevita Taumoepeau the man mountain who has played 181 times for the club.Dave joined the club in 2005 from Bourgoin.  Dave made himself a playing legend with some incredible performances and for being such a gent of the pitch.  Unfortunately we have not seen him in a Warriors shirt since April 2012 when we played London Irish.  The giant props only try for Warriors came in March 2007 against Sale Sharks and unlike Aleki Lutui (also leaving this season, though yet t be announced by the club) I can find no statistics of him ever kicking a conversion.  The players and a few of the fans will be attending a goodbye party in Droitwich after the game today, to give the big man the send off he deserves.

Verdict:

The winner will be the team that wants it more.  A win for Quins would guarantee their playoff position for the season, which you would think would be a massive drive for the team, but is it as big as being able to show the new boss you should be playing?  Is it bigger than keeping a grip on 9th place?  Is it bigger than preventing one of our worst ever finishes?  I think not.  If the boys really want this today then we will take 4 points though I fully expect Quins to take LBP and for the last 5 minutes to be nerve wrecking! 

Worcester Warriors 16 - 13 Harlequins

Key Men:

Chris Jones and Ben Howard