QUINS vs LEICESTER | FULL TIME HOT TAKES

[@barbaraannfrench8773]

I was at twickenham for this game as a Leicester Tigers fan living in Kent great to be able to watch the tigers live throughly enjoyed the game great atmosphere. Pollard so calm throughout.

[@TheWynM]

Pollard showed his value yet again 👏

[@tonic8945]

Coolhand Handre, he's a western gunslinger if ever there was one 😊

[@marco-dn7kd]

Just watched the highlights but it was looking like a very entertaining game with glimpses of individual brilliant talents with the likes of M.Smith, Steward, Dombrandt, Pollard (number one marksman), Walker, Brown (always liked him), undestructible Cole and Murley (no one could have stopped him). And Twickenham ! What an enthusiastic crowd...! I can't wait for the next Crunch, England will be ready for sure. You are often talking very nicely about Top14 but there are not so many games like this one. I am very positive with your Premiership and the style of game the teams are playing. But there is this unbelievable forward pass though...

[@RossoVerdeNero]

Sounds like a great game to comment on, although I didn't see it. Before you do your summary of the weekend, Tim, please give a bit more time to watch the Connacht v Ulster game. What a performance by a vastly understrength Ulster team. Two full debuts away from home in an interpro. Loads of first choice players not available. But the game plan was excellent, and was excellently executed. The Murphy story was intriguing. Dad Richie: Ulster coach. Son no.1, Jack: first start at 10 for Ulster. Son no.2, Ben: on the bench for Connacht, came on in the 2nd half. Jack looked so assured at 10 for Ulster. Played the full 90, hardly put a foot wrong, and his kicking from hand, honestly, was up there with the best you'll see. After all the post-Sexton angst, Ireland is NOT short of talent in that position. Aiden Morgan will be looking over his shoulder. But Nick Timoney: my god, when he is on it, he's awesome. I'll never know how he hasn't had more time in green. MotM, but not by miles - watch young McNabney's performance at 8. Absolutely barnstorming (I love that word, but who has ever stormed a barn? 😂). Anyway, well worth a watch. With McCloskey and Hume out in the centre, I was worried about Aki wreaking havoc. Didn't happen. Final word for Nathan Doak. He was so fired up he got on the wrong side of the ref a couple of times late on, but he controlled it, his defensive kicks from near his own line were real sickeners to the Connacht pack - howitzers to half way. I'd also be interested in your view on Ulster sending him in as a missile across the Connacht backline in defence... he wasn't part of the defensive line, he just hurtled his way along it, sowing confusion at his approach. Great tactic that worked a treat. Surely he needs to come into contention for Ireland. He's a big lad, too, which does no harm. Oh, and he was 100% off the tee.

[@joeritchie2]

Just watched this game on Stan’s replay. Fantastic game; one of the best club matches I’ve seen in a long time. And as for ‘Quins colorful Christmas tree 🎄 kit, I rather liked it.

[@ColmOCallaghan-i6b]

Pollard is the 🐐

[@DoddyIshamel]

Great game. Pity about other games being blowouts. When first choice teams match up the premiership is really exciting but I just don't get whey we are seeing second strings sent out as sacrificial lambs when there are only 18 games, its been not a great look. Still this game was top notch and great crowd.

[@reubsthegreat]

Mate it’s quite nice having a game of the round for once cuz in previous weeks they’ve all good.

[@SweptDust5340]

i’d rather weaker clubs prioritised europe and home games as opposed to just prioritising the prem alone like french weaker sides. The higher end of the table teams with more depth send good squads to all matches aside from those preluding knock out games

[@smudgedog]

I was there with my daughter and my niece - they enjoyed both games - having the women’s game before really added to the day

[@Waldemar-10811]

Disappointed Quins fan here but there was an air of inevitability about the final try. Completely agree about the shirt selection today 🤢. No complaints about the yellow card. I think refs are looking for reasons to avoid giving reds these days whereas a couple of years ago it would have been a definite red With regard Steward, he's playing really well at the moment and had a strong game but his glaring weakness of being slow in defence makes him too much of a gamble at international level for me. Having said that I'm sure Borthwick will pick him but I hope that Carpenter gets a run out a some point.

[@andreemurray7039]

Very enjoyable game had to watch on TV as late home from work do enjoy the games sorry Tim do like the top I'm 60

[@johngarrett84]

I was there with family and friends, great day with lots of food and drinks, the games were great and Ellie K and Marcus Smith lived up to their billing. This is my only Twickenham rugby trip each year - better than the internationals experience imo. Danny Care is way too good still to retire any time soon.

[@danijelanewland3608]

Should give the ladies a shout out too!!!

[@robcrocker348]

Pollard is still going to be a factor come 2027

[@leonvanvuuren7485]

He start most if not all from the bench. Sasha will start. Starting with excitement and bringing on the calm to finish the games off

[@robcrocker348]

Agree 100% with that

[@glennaston2412]

Have been a Marcus Smith fan for a while now but am coming round to the view that he may be better for England at 15 with Fin at 10. My reason being that MS is fantastic with individual skills but I worry that whilst he is outstanding at the flashes of brilliance his ability to be the conductor / controller / general etc of the defence and the attack is sometimes not where it needs to be. It’s as if MS’s first instinct is what can I do next whereas FS is first and foremost looking for what the team does next. Maybe with Furbank out of the 6N we’ll see how Smith/ Smith at 10/15 will work?

[@newchannelname3395]

marcus is definitely a better 15 than a 10, but I don't think he's a better 15 than Furbank or Steward. He's probably England's 3rd best player at 10 and 15, so should stick to wearing 23

[@jerhall123]

I’m with you on the kits. Keep the traditional, iconic designs.

[@sambale6276]

I went, it was a good afternoon out with the girls playing beforehand and lots of stuff to do around the ground. I was sure the Dombrant pass was going to be pulled back, no replays in the stadium obviously 😂. Murley was very good, not just for the speed and tries but under the high balls, very athletic. Smith was good, Steward was also good. No-one really stood out in the packs.

[@fraserposford144]

Shout out to the Quins and Leicester women, new world record attendance for a Women's Club Rugby game 👏 big achievement from Big Game

[@samwhitmore123]

Watching this, I thought Ashton on comms was right - Smith plays more like a fullback than a 10! I think he’s a fantastic rugby player, but not necessarily a fantastic 10… he had individual brilliance but doesn’t bring his other players into the ball effectively as much as a Finn Smith or Ford

[@sharon4532]

The closer to the ball the more effective Freddy Shepard becomes. Powerful runner and destructive tackler. Someday someone needs to try him at 12.

[@jamesmumford8718]

100% agree on Steward at 15 for England. I read an article yesterday with a rugby journo (naming no names) seriously saying that we should start Fin at 10 and Marcus at 15 for the 6N. I am not having it. The only reason to play him there is if injuries force it or you want to keep him on the pitch, and he has said that he wants to play at 10 primarily. We should play a 15 at 15 and use the fact that we have two great 10s with contrasting styles to our advantage. I will concede that despite propping up the team during the Autumn internationals, Marcus may be better used as an impact player with Ford or Fin starting.

[@Yard128]

Worked for NZ

[@InsanelyIrish]

That was probably the best game of the Christmss period. Pollard just about nailing that kick was beautiful. Also I will never like hearing the words Allianz Stadium. A draw was a fair result to me Smith played very well creating a lot of chances.

[@johnlouiswessels6083]

In order to speed up the game IRB should change the conversion rule when a team scores a try under the goal posts, allowing only 30 seconds for conversion kick which must be a drop kick and not a place kick. Currently the kicker is wasting at least 30-40 seconds by drinking water before taking the conversion.

[@rjrrjrrjr23]

Completely agree on the Kata yellow card - can't see how that's a red. It wasn't a dominant tackle and he only had a split second to react to change of line

[@PB-tk4uu]

A bad pub carpet, lmao

[@System-Update]

Yellow. Good call.

[@acrossthepond9008]

Picking the ball up from a offside position should have been called back for Murley's brilliant effort and skinning Stewart try. 4th try for Quins, TMO I think is a Quins fan 😂 Overall a great game.

[@paulware9411]

Ref cleared that up. Tigers lost the ball, ball on the ground so no offside.

[@johnlouiswessels6083]

Traditional Afrikaans folk song: "Pollie ons gaan Paarl toe!"

[@kev63inuk]

Not against Tim’s backing of Ford at ten and moving Marcus to 15 for England seeing a game out , but prefer Fin smith at ten as surely George Ford is 3rd choice now. My individual thinking is George hendy at 15 if no Furbank available.

[@henrymilleruk100]

Very entertaining game. And I will TAKE IT after last week. BUT something still just feels so off about Quins this season, so many rumors of players going, so few signings in general for this season. I don’t rate Danny Wilson and I’m suspicious of something not being right behind the scenes. No evidence to back that up though. Anyone in agreement or heard anything?

[@MrKrazyKap]

Agreed on the yellow, sloppy but not really a dangerous hit. Mental the forward pass was ignored. Quins attacking with a lot of late passes at the line that look marginal

[@k0bra3eak40]

Kit kinda looks like a Stormers training kit

[@skitzouk]

if "rugby values" were a real thing after that blatant forward pass Quins would have immediately let tigers walk in a try ...

[@clairegresswell]

How many times are we - Quins - going to draw the Big Game at Christmas? Yes, I was disappointed. As for the shirts, given how iconic our quaters are, it is always a mystery as to why the designers come up with some of the monstrosities they do. They get worse every season. I'm so pleased that I was around when a) the shirts were more affordable & b) the shirts were traditional in style & design. I'll always love my Flowers Original shirt! 😊

[@andrewharris1837]

Kata bit of a thug.he's taken out opposition players in every game he's played this season.😮

[@MattConnolly-wi8oh]

Great game, great spectacle. Totally irrelevant to the game but the quins kit I agree is dreadful. Why loose or recreate one of the cool jerseys of European rugby!

[@trimad6128]

I think the falcons bears and sarries had a Christmas party🍺🍺🍾🤮

[@HeidiLandRover]

Quins have been putting on this event for a while now. Like you say: it's good for rugby. Are any of the other teams doing anything to garner some interest from the public? They all seem a bit complacent, happy to bimble along and let the old farts in charge take all the profits.

[@brizzleb-n2r]

Bristol v Bath at The Principality Stadium in May 2025

[@HeidiLandRover]

@@brizzleb-n2r Sounds good - is this a regular thing?

[@brizzleb-n2r]

@@HeidiLandRover This is the first time that this match is being played at a neutral ground to try and grow interest in the game abd support for the clubs

[@HeidiLandRover]

@@brizzleb-n2r Cool - let's hope it is a success.

[@ianeveratt7273]

Initially I was against them, but I think there is a place for 20min red cards and Kata's offence should have been one

[@Jeffisawesome536]

Katas was never a red. You would be arguing if it was a quins player

[@Carl-s3h]

Why ere there so many one sided games in the premiership it just seems to happen to any team saracens have not been taken apart like they were by bath it’s all gone very strange

[@chiefsgirl1307]

Good game to watch but what you said about people going home happy with the draw, I think that right there is a problem with Northern Hemisphere rugby in that you view a draw as a win where as in NZ we view a draw as a loss. It kinda reminded me of the time when the ABs drew with England when Marcus Smith kicked the ball out instead of playing for the win but that draw was way worse in my view compared to this draw.

[@MrKrazyKap]

Both teams have been dipping in form and a loss would be very harmful to playoff chances, so a draw here does have a lot of value over a loss

[@chiefsgirl1307]

@@MrKrazyKap I guess that makes sense since its crucial for points but still a draw is still shit

[@mattcheesman1055]

"A bad Pub carpet". Lots of sniggering etc

[@stuartgriffiths4292]

Watched the game on TV cracking game, my mate was therewith his family, asked him if he enjoyed, heard Tigers fans were worse than football fans ,hurling abuse starting fights throwing beer over everyone 😮, I hope they get pulled up for this

[@adamclarke7029]

Kata was never legal. His no attempt to wrap gets rid of all mitigation

[@vincent-d-g]

Shame our experience of the game was spoiled by a group.of absolute whoppers who had no interest in the game and were just looking to throw abuse at people. Clearly not genuine quins fans

[@darthmaul408]

Tim, with all due respect, Freddie Steward is playing well, but he has had many chances at international level. It’s well known that his aerial game is excellent. If it’s a rainy day, he’ll pluck everything out of the air and look like a million dollars. Yet his limitations are always exposed at international level. Murley only did what many have already done. Picking him at 15 is aspiring to mediocrity for me.

[@NTL578]

100% agree. He has 9/10 skill in some areas, but 3/10 in others.

[@redgozza]

Tim - you're getting boring. We need more pyrotechnics not less. I thought that skill the players showed picking out high balls from the smoke added to the fun.

[@axxey]

Can't say Ben Youngs not at fault, that's completely and utterly stupid position to take a quick tap. Shouldn't happen at this level, terribly low rugby IQ. Northern hemisphere camera work is frustratingly bad, as well as camera director choosing shots and replays super selectively all the time.

[@pauljohnson8302]

Generally I like Carley, & don't/won't criticise Refs, but I thought he was quite poor today & the TMO was needed to correct some missed decisions ... really surprised they didn't pick up the forward pass however. In the grand scheme of things: 2 poor teams, their positions in the league probably a true measure of their abilities.

[@RobertZeelie-q7g]

What a fantastic game. Sorry I’m not a M Smith fan. Yes he has got skill and he is a good player just don’t think he’s the one for England rugby.

[@johngarrett84]

I was there with family and friends, great day with lots of food and drinks, the games were great and Ellie K and Marcus Smith lived up to their billing. This is my only Twickenham rugby trip each year - better than the internationals experience imo. Danny Care is way too good still to retire any time soon.