Harlequins v London Irish Premiership Preview

Harlequins have made four changes to the team that played Northampton Saints for this weekend’s Aviva Premiership match against London Irish at the Stoop.

Tighthead prop Matt Shields makes his starting debut in the Aviva Premiership, having made his first Premiership appearance for the club last week. Nick Easter, who was released from the England camp this week, starts at Number 8.

24 year-old openside flanker Luke Wallace will make his 100th senior appearance for the club.

In the backs, Danny Care, who was also released from the England squad, has recovered from a calf strain and starts, with Ross Chisholm named at full-back.

Among the replacements is current England U20 Seb Adeniran-Olule.

Harlequins have lost their last five matches in all competitions, their worst run since season 2009/10.

Quins have suffered just two defeats at Twickenham Stoop in their last six Aviva Premiership Rugby matches at the venue: to Sale in round 8 and Exeter in round 15.

London Irish ended a four game losing run in all competitions with their 50-12 victory at London Welsh on Saturday – their highest points total in the tournament since 2012. The Exiles have not won successive away games in Premiership Rugby since their opening two trips this season, to Newcastle and Leicester.

London Irish’s only win in their last eight fixtures with Harlequins in all tournaments was 18-13 at Madejski Stadium in Aviva Premiership Rugby in October 2013.

The Irishmen have not been victorious at Twickenham Stoop since they won their 17-0 in the semi-final of Premiership Rugby in May 2009.

London Irish have named Shane Geraghty as captain due to George Skivington being ruled out with a foot injury.

London Irish Head Coach, Glenn Delaney, has made four changes to his side that beat London Welsh last weekend, all four coming up front.

Tom Court and Halani Aulika both make returns to the starting line-up to join David Paice in the front row. Jebb Sinclair moves into the second row to join Nic Rouse and Scotland international Blair Cowan returns to the Exiles side to pack down alongside Ofisa Treviranus and Tom Guest in the back row.

The back line remains unchanged. Scott Steele and Shane Geraghty are named in the halfbacks, with Eamonn Sheridan and Tom Fowlie continuing their partnership in the centre. James Short, Alex Lewington and Andrew Fenby are named as the back three.

Head Coach Glenn Delaney said of his selection, “We have made a few changes up front this week. We have been forced into one or two through injury but we are also bolstered by some guys returning from both injury and international duty which is great. “

“The back line has been working well of late so we have decided to stick with it and trust the guys to go out there and do the job. Harlequins are a top side and The Stoop is always a tough place to go so we will have to be at our best come Saturday.

Match : Harlequins v London Irish
Date : Saturday 7th March
Venue : Twickenham Stoop,
Kick Off : 3pm
Live on: BT Sport / N.A
Match Officials
Referee : JP Doyle (92nd Premiership game).
Assistant Referees: Wayne Barnes and Luke Pearce.
TMO: Stuart Terheege.

Teams

Harlequins

15 Ross Chisholm, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 Harry Sloan, 11 Charlie Walker, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Danny Care, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Luke Wallace, 6 Jack Clifford, 5 George Robson (c), 4 Charlie Matthews, 3 Matt Shields, 2 Dave Ward, 1 Mark Lambert

Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Darryl Marfo, 18 Seb Adeniran-Olule, 19 Netani Talei, 20 Joe Trayfoot, 21 Karl Dickson, 22 Ben Botica, 23 Ugo Monye

London Irish

15 Andrew Fenby, 14 Alex Lewington, 13 Tom Fowlie, 12 Eamonn Sheridan, 11 James Short, 10 Shane Geraghty (c), 9 Scott Steele, 8 Tom Guest, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Ofisa Treviranus, 5 Jebb Sinclair, 4 Nic Rouse, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 David Paice, 1 Tom Court

Replacements: 16 Jimmy Stevens, 17 Matt Parr, 18 Leo Halavatau, 19 Sean Cox, 20 Luke Narraway, 21 Darren Allinson, 22 Chris Noakes, 23 Eoin Griffin