The Rugby weekend

Harlequins have always operated a productive academy and one of the greatest supporter’s joys in any sport is the emergence of youth talent.

Thus on Friday night I watched with utmost interest the game on the Premiership Cup – yet another competition – between Quins and Ealing Trailfinders.  The latter are themselves unlucky not to be a Premiership team. With many first teamers out on international duty in the Autumn Internationals, Quins had to pick a second string side with many youngsters.  One who shone was the Cambridge University fly half Jamie Benson.

All the youngsters would benefit from the experience of Joe Launchbury and Leigh Halfpenny, who has improved Marcus Smith’s kicking off the tee.

In s spirited match Quins ran out winners but their lead was never enough to be commanding.

I watched the second half of Ireland v All Blacks. It’s now a common tactic to have a mass substitution after an hour.

It did not work well for England against All Blacks last week and neither for Ireland who – after Frawley came on for Crawley and the front row was subbed – decomposed into careless play.