Following Harlequins' 28-24 win over Glasgow Warriors in the Investec Champions Cup last 16, here are five takeaways from the thrilling game at Twickenham Stoop.
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Glasgow Warriors head to the Stoop on a five-game winning streak as they take on Harlequins, who are struggling for consistency.
Both teams are known for their attacking prowess, and this match was poised to be a blockbuster start to this weekend's Investec Champions Cup Round of 16, and in many ways it paid off.
The Warriors jumped out of the blocks and led by seven points in just three minutes after 15 phases of spectacular attack.
Harlequins fought back with good play from Marcus Smith, who scored a try and two assists, giving his side a 21-7 advantage at half-time.
But the Warriors were once again deadly from the restart, falling back to their once reliable try machine, Rolling Maul and Johnny Matthews, and quickly took the lead again, scoring 17 unanswered points and nailing it. It set a stinging finish.
Both teams were looking for a hammer blow, but it was Sam Riley who scored with a touchdown with five minutes left to seal Harlequins' place in the quarter-finals and their first knockout stage win of the tournament. Ta.
Marcus Smith shines as Harlequins win thrilling Champions Cup against Glasgow Warriors
magical marcus smith
Marcus Smith set about orchestrating a comeback at the Famous Quarters after Glasgow Warriors silenced the home fans by taking the lead with a superbly flowing 15-phase attack.
Franco Smith's charges clearly identify the threat he poses and attack him by keeping him on the floor and committing to tackles as much as possible and firing at him as quickly as possible, even if it's a little late. It was an attempt to close off options. However, these two of his tactics backfired in his first two tries for Quins.
The England fly-half stood up and took a good look at the spread of Glasgow's defence, dropping a perfect cross-kick into the corner for Andre Esterhuizen to pounce on after just two phases.
🤌 @MarcuSmith10 Unblock your defenses with the right boots 🔓#HARvGLA #InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/jnPV9DPtEr
— TNT Sports Rugby (@rugbyontnt) April 5, 2024
Glasgow continued to defend relentlessly, but were often deflected by referee Tual Trainini's whistle, conceding 22 penalties to Quins. Harlequins' set-pieces were admittedly erratic to say the least. We'll get to that later, but when they got it right, Sione Tuipulotu's shot went off the line too early and he was sent off for a breather after a ton of penalties for his team. Before his offence, Tuipulotu was keeping Marcus Smith at bay and limiting his and Osterhuizen's influence, but his absence means Glasgow's back-row will have to compensate for his absence and fill the spaces. However, they were overtracked by the host team's attack. The fly-half jumped over three defenders and crossed the line.
Zinc🕺
Juggle 🤹@MarcuSmith10 That's where I show off my skills 👏#HARvGLA #InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/AK56ei5jUz
— TNT Sports Rugby (@rugbyontnt) April 5, 2024
Their tails were firmly up at this stage and Quins attacked with a bit more bite and determination, Marcus Smith putting the ball on the platter for Kaydan Marley, but Marley did a rookie job of charging to the line. A mistake wasted the chance for the first try with the ball in the wrong hands – after a great arch to beat George Horne and create a simple 2-on-1.
The playmaker was magical, but chances and possession dried up in the second half.
Glasgow 2-2
After responding to Glasgow's fast start, Quins were slow to block out in the second half and the visiting team made the most of it. They kept the pressure on, played in the right areas of the pitch and were competitive at set pieces.
Once again, Harlequins' set-pieces let their opponents down, allowing Glasgow to unleash one of their most deadly weapons, the rolling maul, and they seized the opportunity.
No team in European competition scored more tries from mauls than the Scottish side, and it was almost a foregone conclusion for Rory Darge and co when Matthews collected the ball at the back of the drive. It paved the way for the try line.
This goal reinvigorated the Warriors team and allowed them to play with more confidence. Just two minutes later, Horn was back on his feet again when winger Jamie Dobbie, normally a scrum-half, brilliantly charged Kyle Steyn wide for a stunning team score.
A stunning comeback doubled the score and it didn't take long for them to take the lead thanks to Horn's shot.
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From lineout failure to success
Lineouts are the richest source of tries in professional rugby, but Harlequins showed today that they can also be a source of failure.
Famous Quarters' set-pieces against Glasgow were uncharacteristically poor, and they were lethargic in getting into the air with their own balls and the Warriors' balls. There were six times he failed to get possession of the ball, and several of those times he put unnecessary pressure on in important moments.
In fact, Matthews' try came after a set-piece mistake by Quins, and a bad throw from Riley late in the game gave the Warriors a new attacking position that was eventually saved by Esterhuizen. .
Starting hooker Jack Walker, left out by Steve Borthwick in this year's Six Nations, remains a busy player around the pitch, but the reason for his neglect is clearly set-pieces. .
Ironically, it was this lineout that produced the winning play for Quins. Reilly put aside a poor throw early in the game to reach his goal and earn his first Champions Cup try.
But if Quins are to have any hope of making it through to next week's quarter-finals, they will face either London rivals Saracens, who beat the Famous Quarters 52-7 two weeks ago, or Bordeaux at home. We'll need to get our set-pieces right. Because those teams won't waste the chance Glasgow has.
BMT player gets Harlequin over the line
Harlequins needed something special to seal a result and it's no surprise that star players like Marcus Smith and powerhouse center Esterhuizen rose to the occasion. The pair were the driving force behind everything Harlequins did well in the first half, and when they were down 24-21, they were defending in their own 22 when Esterhuizen scored a superb ball over Pilfer. I got out of the predicament.
This penalty put Harlequins back on the pitch and just as Glasgow were anticipating their next attack, Marcus Smith caught Harlequins off guard with a high bomb and set up a scrum, intelligently playing, with great skill and precision. 22 points increased from 22 points to 22 points. A scrum penalty followed, and after a correct lineout and Reilly powered over, Smith converted decisively to extend their lead outside of either a penalty goal or a drop goal, as Quins began a serious breakdown late in the game. I was able to attack.
Tonight, the star players undoubtedly earned big wages and flexed their temperament in the big match to ensure Quins' victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
Can they back up this performance against the forces of Saracens and Bordeaux? We'll have to wait and see.
As for Glasgow, Franco Smith's side will regret missed opportunities and will be extremely disappointed to see their Champions Cup journey end in the last 16, but they will get back into the game and be in a position to win. Many positive things will come from their determination. It's a victory.
This is just two losses from seven in 2024, and they will now be fully focused on winning the URC title, which is well within their reach.
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