A Champions Cup of modest returns for the English was no less than given a fillip by Harlequins. This moderately snug win over Glasgow throughout the street from the place the Calcutta Cup might be contested subsequent month put the house staff by means of to the final 16. Nobody will notably relish a go to from one of many recreation’s extra waspish groups, however it’s truthful to say any additional progress by Quins would require an enchancment on this.
Glasgow, champions of the United Rugby Championship no much less, weren’t fairly there all night. Maybe they had been thrown by the lack of Sione Tuipulotu to a suspected pectoral damage this week in coaching, which threatens his participation in Scotland’s Six Nations marketing campaign. Franco Smith, Glasgow’s head coach, couldn’t verify the extent of the damage however spoke darkly about Tuipulotu’s prospects of a right away return, implying afterwards that the race was extra for him to return in time to mount a problem for a spot within the Lions tour than the Six Nations.
Glasgow did rating an absolute magnificence within the first half however they may not rouse themselves to attain once more. Their qualification was already assured, full with house tie, however this was a disappointing finish to their pool.
Quins did not safe the bonus level, which could have proved important, however Racing’s win over Stormers means solely Sale can move them in third. The Sharks host Toulon, now confirmed winners of Pool 4, in Manchester on Sunday . A bonus-point win for Sale would push Quins into fourth, nonetheless sufficient for a spot within the final 16.
Tuipulotu was not going to play on this recreation anyway, however the information for Gregor Townsend worsened solely 10 minutes in when Scott Cummings, one among Scotland’s locks, was pressured off. He later appeared along with his arm in a sling.
Higher information was forthcoming within the type of Tuipulotu’s alternative, Stafford McDowall, who additionally assumed the captaincy within the absence of Kyle Steyn. He was instrumental in that Glasgow attempt on the half-hour.
McDowall’s move launched Kyle Rowe down the left wing, straight from a scrum in Glasgow’s personal half. He stored up in assist to take the return ball and slip it to Jamie Dobie, whose offload despatched Tom Jordan to the posts.
That was a spotlight in a primary half stuffed with them, earlier than the sport drifted in a flatter second. Quins had already opened a 17-0 lead at that time with two tries within the first quarter and a Marcus Smith penalty. Cadan Murley, included in Steve Borthwick’s England squad, was key to each tries, earlier than clinching Quins’ third within the remaining quarter.
He took Smith’s cross-kick within the 14th minute and arrange place deep in Glasgow’s proper nook. Two meaty drives by Quins’ locks paved the way in which for Chandler Cunningham-South, wanting good once more on the eve of the Six Nations, to open the scoring.
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James Chisholm was a type of locks, moved up from his customary function within the again row, and he weighed in with the second. Murley got here in from the blindside off an attacking Quins scrum to launch Nick David on a run down the suitable. Cunningham-South’s offload despatched Chisholm off on a gallop to the road. One other Murley run coaxed Glasgow into an offside place, and Smith opened up that 17-0 lead with the penalty.
Quins thought that they had a 3rd simply earlier than the break, when the punchy Ben Waghorn dummied and went, however the tv match official alerted the referee to an obstruction. Oscar Beard’s dummy had opened up the hole for Waghorn by obstructing Huw Jones.
A ten-point lead at half-time was higher than nothing, however Quins revered Glasgow sufficient to not really feel snug with that. The Warriors did go on to dominate the third quarter. It was Quins, although, who took the one daring step of the second half, as deep into it because the 68th minute. Glasgow had been on the assault, however the house staff turned the ball over, and Alex Dombrandt launched Murley down the left. Nobody was at house for Glasgow. Murley put down his newest marker to Borthwick by working to the posts.
By then, the bonus level mattered to not Quins’ qualification possibilities, because of the lead to Paris. Quins had been to not know that, although, given the concurrent kick-off. They completed the match within the ascendancy, however a fourth attempt proved past them. Nonetheless, a fourth staff by means of to the final 16 is of some comfort to English rugby.
