Report: Quins keep qualification hopes alive with victory over Racing 92
Harlequins secured a vital 14-10 victory against a feisty yet unimpressive Racing 92 in Round 2 of the Heineken Champions Cup.
The home side scored early through George Head and controlled the opening half, but a penalty from Finn Russell and a last-minute score from Kitione Kamikamica edged the visitors 7-10 ahead at the break.
Andre Esterhuizen’s try and a red card for Kamikamica looked to assure a Quins victory, and despite a feisty final 10 minutes they managed to hold on to keep their knockout qualification hopes alive.
In a hugely impressive starting debut from prop Fin Baxter, the set piece was the tale of the tape this evening. Harlequins scrum fired all night while Racing’s line-out surpassed that of the hosts, the French driving maul the source of much of their damage.
However it was Quins more clinical edge in attack that ultimately assure their victory as they capitalised on their few clear chances in the game.
The rain refused to stop falling for the full 80 minutes in Twickenham, the dreary weather endeavouring to pacify both sides attacking intent.
Harlequins’ Head had other ideas, however. The hooker found a gap in Racing’s wide channel, bursting through with impressive pace and rounding Racing’s scrambling defenders to cross in the 3rd minute to the rapturous tune of the Stoop faithful. Tommy Allan slotted the extras and Quins lead 7-0 inside four minutes.
Racing got themselves on the board in the 14th minute, Russell slotting his first of the night from the left-hand side.
The visitors had a clear tactic to attack in behind the Harlequins line, giving fullback Nick David plenty of work. But the young Englishman was calm and collected under pressure, impressing with a dummy and jink past oncoming Frenchmen in the 18th minute.
As Racing kept trying and failing to get into the game it began to feel as if the early Quins score could be crucial.
The home side were in clear control for the majority of the rest of the half. Perhaps predictably Quins didn’t give the slippery conditions their full respect, looking to impose their usual Quarters flair to find their way around Racing.
A nudge through from Allan threatened Racing’s right-hand corner with winger Josh Bassett in hot pursuit, the ball bouncing awkwardly across the try-line. Racing recovered well however to prevent him from touching down.
Quins had their best period of pressure in the same corner. Winning a free kick off a Racing scrum, three Quins scrums all led to re-sets as the turf gave way to sand.
They finally got the penalty in the 27th minute, deciding to turn the screw on the Racing pack as they opted for another scrum. Eventually they swung the ball wide, but their hands failed them.
Racing’s situation looked to be worsening as the reliable Russell pushed a straightforward penalty wide of the posts in the 30th minute, compiled by another Quins chance in the right corner as Bassett tussled with Teddy Iribaren in chase of a kick.
And despite all their difficulties, Racing somehow found a way through in the last few minutes of the half, back-row Kamikamica bruising his way under the posts. Russell had an easy kick to edge Racing ahead 7-10 at the break to the curiosity of all observers.
The impressive David re-injected some spark into the home side out the sheds, slipping his way through the French defence and up to their 22. Quins secured a kickable penalty but opted for the corner instead.
A few phases later and Quins had another penalty, this time choosing the scrum from five out. The decision paid off, Esterhuizen skipping past Racing bodies to score, initially ruled out by referee Craig Evans. Allan converted and the score moved to 14-10.
Then came the game’s decisive moment. In the 50th minute the uncontainable David advanced again with ball in hand, and as try-scorer Kamikamica looked to stop him his tackle went horribly wrong, lifting the full-back over his right shoulder and onto his head.
A red card was the only decision.
This is a significant set back for the visitors, their discipline falling apart as they struggles to contain an advantaged Quins. However the result was far from secured for the home side.
A superb 50:22 from Iribaren from in the 70th minute handed Racing a five-metre lineout. However, ferocious defence from the Quins pack forced the French driving maul into touch.
A well-executed exit followed and Quins released the pressure, Donovan Taofifenua meeting a brick wall dressed in Quarters as he looked to return for another go.
There were handbags galore as tensions rose, but Racing’s discipline continued to cost them. A breakdown penalty for holding on the 77th minute gave Allan a chance to kick his side deep into Racing territory for the closing minutes, where they remained as the clock went red.
For Racing it will be a tough ask to move beyond the pool stages with two losses from two. Harlequins will travel to Paris next month in what could be the decisive fixture for their advancement.
Harlequins
15. Nick David 14. Cadan Murley, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Josh Bassett, 10. Tommy Allan, 9. Danny Care, 1. Fin Baxter, 2. George Head, 3. Simon Kerrod, 4. Dino Lamb, 5. Irné Herbst, 6. Jack Kenningham, 7. Will Evans, 8. Alex Dombrandt (c).
Replacements:
16. Jack Musk, 17. Jordan Els, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. George Hammond, 20. Tom Lawday, 21. Lewis Gjaltema, 22. Will Edwards, 23. Oscar Beard,
Racing 92
15. Warrick Gelant, 14. Christian Wade, 13. Francis Saili, 12. Gael Fickou (c), 11. Donovan Taofifenua, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Teddy Iribaren, 1. Trevor Nyakane, 2. Janick Tarrit, 3. Biyi Alo, 4. Boris Palu, 5. Fabien Sanconnie, 6. Cameron Woki, 7. Anthime Hemery, 8. Kitione Kamikamica.
Replacements:
16. Péniami Narisia, 17. Jonathan Maïau, 18. Cedate Gomes Sa, 19. Anton Bresler, 20. Baptiste Chouzenoux, 21. Antoine Gibert, 22. Henry Chavancy, 23. Louis Dupichot
