#360Rugby: Harlequins’ statement of intent, Andy Farrell and Ireland a perfect fit

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  • Andy Farrell (L) will take up the role of Irish defence coach in June.

    The start of 2016 has been a busy one in the world of rugby and here, Sport360’s rugby experts analyse a magnificent Harlequins’ win, Andy Farrell’s Irish appointment and a tough day for UAE clubs.

    Harlequins start 2016 with a bang

    Under the Saturday night lights of south west London, Harlequins produced a masterclass in wet weather rugby to end Saracens’ win streak in front of a sell-out crowd.

    The fact that it was a London derby only added to the sense of pantomime in what must surely go down in club’s finest victories at the Twickenham Stoop. As a regular visitor at the historical venue, this scribe can confirm it was certainly one of the loudest.

    The game was full of flashpoints like that of James Horwill’s yellow card early in the game, but none were more influential on the result than Saracens prop Rhys Gill’s red card on 65 minutes.

    Until that point the Premiership champions were six points ahead and looked ready to settle into their by now customary last quarter of the match dominance.

    However Gill’s reckless challenge was correctly rewarded with an early shower and Quins needed no second invitation to ‘turn the screw’ on the visitors.

    Wave after wave of multi-coloured attacks concluded in a Horwill try that not only served to atone for the Australian’s earlier indiscretion, but sealed a Harlequins victory that could set their season alight.

    Farrell and Schmidt are a match made in rugby Heaven

    With a coaching CV that includes assistant coaching roles at Saracens, England and the British & Irish Lions, Andy Farrell was never going to wonder rugby wilderness for long.

    Joe Schmidt wasted no time in bringing the former duel-code international on board as Ireland’s defence coach, and the appointment is a very shrewd move by the New Zealander.

    Under Farrell Ireland will employ a rugby league-style defence with fast line speed which, coupled with their preference for the choke tackle, should prove to be devastatingly effective.

    However Farrell’s use as a coach extends far beyond that of his tactical nous. As Ireland’s senior players will know from the Lions, the Wigan legend is motivational machine and where Schmidt prefers the role of cool-headed Kiwi, Farrell will inspire his men with fiery rhetoric.  It is a match made in rugby coaching Heaven.

    The only snag is that Farrell’s start date will be after the 2016 Six Nations, when he will take the reins from outgoing coach Les Kiss.

    Ulster prove that class is permanent

    After an unusually sluggish start to the season it is fair to say that Ulster are back to their best, and Europe is all the better for it.

    Last November Saracens consummately thrashed Ulster 29-7 in Belfast, but if last weekend’s results are anything to go by it will be a different story in next week’s return fixture.

    After going 23-0 down at half-time, the Northern Irishmen staged one of the most impressive comebacks in European rugby history to beat Oyonnax in Pool One and stay in the competition.

    In fact, it was a second successive victory on French soil for Rory Best’s men following on from their 25-23 win in Toulouse in round four.

    Saracens will undoubtedly come out all guns blazing at Allianz Park, but if Les Kiss’ men can weather the early storm (perhaps literally), then in Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson have the class to steer their team to another shock win on the road.

    Gulf in class as Doha defeat Al Ain

    West Asia Championship new boys Al Ain Amblers were given a harsh reality check on the opening day of the tournament, going down 67-33 at home.

    Having endured a difficult start to life back in the UAE Premiership with seven defeats from seven this season, the men from the Garden City started to turn a corner towards the end of 2015 with some impressive performances during the sevens campaign.

    However West Asia champions Doha were not feeling sympathetic when Kiniiviliame Natuna was sent off and ruthlessly scored 36 unanswered points in the second half to end the contest.

    Despite the scoreline Al Ain can take heart from the fact that it was an even contest for 55mins until the sending off, and there are not too many other teams that will put 33 points past the men from Qatar either.

    Luke Ward, Sam Spencer and Aaron McLelland also touched down for the Qataris who will be among the favourites for the West Asia Championship again, as Amblers at least picked up a try-scoring bonus point.

    Bahrain win demonstrates bridging of gap in talent

    With Doha’s Gulf Top 6 victory last year coupled to Bahrain’s stunning 13-12 against Abu Dhabi Saracens last weekend, it looks as if the age of UAE dominance in regional competitions is over.

    If truth be told it could have been an even greater winning margin for the visitors, had it not been for Vito Tuivione’s try at the death to give Sarries an ultimately unsuccessful conversion to win the match.

    Opposition teams should not get ahead of themselves just yet, given that it was the capital side’s second home defeat in 16 months.

    But the result does set up a mouth-watering clash between Doha and Saracens next week in Al Ghazal, with the Qataris keen to avenge their West Asia final loss and Sarries keen to get back to winning ways.

    While it looks as though Muscat will struggle to compete in the league they arguably should not be playing in the first place, the tournament can only benefit from Doha and Bahrain’s emergence as consistently good performers.

    Extra-time

    BMT stands for Big Match Temperament and it is a phrase that is all rugby players, from the top echelons of professional leagues right down to the Saturday amateurs are familiar with. Every team needs players who will rise to the occasion if they are to build consistency and last weekend, Ulster fly-half Paddy Jackson showed he had spadefuls of BMT. The playmaker has received a lot of flack in his short career for his kicking abilities but after nailing this 55m kick, in extra time, to complete one of European rugby’s finest-ever comebacks will go some way in banishing his demons. It’s also worth noting that the kick had another 10 metres in it.

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