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'We almost started too well': Evans focusing on the positives following massive lead slip
By PA
Harlequins attack and backs coach Nick Evans was happy with the way his side regained control of their match against Gloucester, which they ultimately won 59-24 after letting a big lead slip.
When Quins had the try bonus point against an under-strength Cherry and Whites after 26 minutes, it looked like a case of how many points the Gallagher Premiership’s third-placed team would win by.
However, Gloucester, with many of their key players rested, fought back to level after half-time – only for the hosts to get back up to the standards they had set earlier in the afternoon.
Evans said: “We almost started too well, going 24-0 up after 20 minutes or so, then we got sloppy.
“We stopped working at the non-glamourous stuff, which was disappointing for us a group, and we let them back into the game in a period after half-time – and we just can’t have that.
“That’s going to cost us games, them scoring off the back of three penalties in a row and then an intercept.
“What was very pleasing was the way we wrestled it back and then really dominated the last third of the game, against a tiring defence.
“It’s the way we want to play, the way we feel we can beat teams through our attack, which gives our defence energy.
“Overall, we would say that we were a bit sloppy, but also that we created lots of opportunities and ended up with nine tries.”
Tries by Luke Northmore, Mike Brown, Cadan Murley and Danny Care opened up a 24-0 lead for Harlequins, but Gloucester levelled the match through Charlie Chapman (2) and Matt Garvey.
But once Care restored Quins’ lead, they did not look back, with Tyrone Green, Alex Dombrandt (2) and Northmore adding to their tally, while the visitors had Matt Banahan sent off for a dangerous tackle.
Gloucester head coach George Skivington said: “I wouldn’t debate that it’s a red card or anything, under the laws, but we do seem to be falling on the wrong side of decisions lately.
“I’m not going to argue either way, I just think that if we stop every incident in a rugby game, there would be no one left on the pitch.
“If I thought there was an issue with our character, then I would scream and shout a little bit, but actually I thought the boys worked unbelievably hard.
“Those young lads that came on, the energy they brought, it wasn’t necessarily accurate, but it was energetic.
“They played rugby together as kids and they’re growing nicely.
“That’s their exposure, that’s their learning, so there’s no point in getting too down or screaming and shouting about it.
“I would have liked to have nicked the bonus point, but it wasn’t to be.”
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Skelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
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