Latest news with #AlexDombrandt
The Independent
22-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Harlequins stun star-studded Saracens to decisively end derby day hoodoo
Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Consider the derby day hoodoo most definitely banished. Before overturning Saracens at the Stoop in October, Harlequins had lost eight in a row against their London rivals, but a more significant streak was snapped with an against-all-odds win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium here. It was March 2012 when they last tasted victory in this fixture away from their southwest London home; a neutral site this may have been but the travelling fans in their quarters filling the seats would have relished such a victory. The matchday programme declared Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Chandler Cunningham-South and Cadan Murley as the five Harlequins players to watch; the fact that only one of them was on the pitch made this win all the more significant. Injury put paid to Care and Murley's chances of featuring but for Smith and Cunningham-South, this fixture served as a mandatory stand-down after their England exertions. It would have been a commercial own goal had the Sarries stars done the same – Maro Itoje and co. will take their breaks in coming weeks – but with the league always battling for eyeballs, it was a shame not to see all of the stars on show. That is not to criticise Smith, sunning himself in Miami, and the rest, but more to highlight the sacrifices that have to be made with an ever more congested calendar complicated further in a British and Irish Lions year. Even the relentless Itoje, who has played every minute of the last six editions of the Six Nations, admitted in November that it would be impossible to play at the peak of his powers throughout a gruelling year. For that reason, then, this was a serious setback to Saracens' hopes of a top-four finish with so many sides in the mix. This would, should, have been a banker given the circumstances; to come away without even a single point is a major blow. This might not be a Saracens squad quite able to rival that which they assembled, by hook or by crook, during the glory years but the talent is still considerable, which made this flat performance perplexing. With Ben Earl nursing a knee infection, Mark McCall could still call upon Theo McFarland, Juan Martin Gonzalez and Tom Willis as an elite back row, with Andy Onyeama-Christie – back from a horror injury sustained in the reverse fixture in October – as a high-quality reserve. Youngster Nathan Michelow is also tipped for big things. It took not even five minutes for McFarland to open the scoring. A loose offload from Quins skipper Dombrandt gave away possession softly, with Ivan van Zyl's resultant kick ahead well chased by Sarries. A breakdown penalty was tapped quickly by Jamie George, and the flanker did the rest. What followed thereafter, though, did not live to the spectacle provided pre-match at a world-class arena. The crowd of 54,414 had been lively ahead of kick off but drifted with a sloppy game played largely between the two 22s, both sides perhaps displaying understandable rust given that some of their Six Nations representatives had been back in camp a mere matter of days. It took Saracens until on the brink of the break to strike again, with the cutest of blind balls out the back from Alex Goode helping create room for Tobias Elliott to squeeze into the corner. open image in gallery Tobias Elliott scored on the stroke of half time for Saracens ( Getty Images ) Harlequins had done well to stay in the fight but, much like Ange Postecoglou, their ideological tendencies weren't perhaps helping them. Several times they turned down kickable penalties to head for the corner and came away with nothing to show for it. Their route back into the game came from one of the few England squad members who was on show in the quarters. Oscar Beard must have become very familiar with the backside of a tackle bag after a Six Nations spent toiling at training for a first cap to no avail, but the centre could well end up a key figure on the tour to Argentina in the summer, and showed his quality here. Showing the pace and power that make him a player of high potential, the centre shook off the attentions of Elliot to surge across halfway and send his midfield partner, Ben Waghorn, under the sticks. open image in gallery Young fly half Jamie Benson kicked Harlequins to victory ( Getty Images ) Jamie Benson, uber impressive off the bench at fly half, nudged over a penalty to close the gap to two points, before slotting another nine minutes from time to put Harlequins in front. A high tackle from Alex Lozowski and the young 10 stepped up and delivered again. Smith will soon be back rested and recharged but his shirt is in safe hands. Will Porter's score put the result beyond all doubt – what a win, what a statement, what a turnaround.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
England recall Dombrandt to squad for Calcutta Cup
Alex Dombrandt has been recalled to Steve Borthwick's initial 36-man England squad for Saturday's Calcutta Cup match against Scotland at Murrayfield. The Harlequins number eight withdrew from the Six Nations opener with Ireland earlier this month through injury, but returned to club action against Saracens in the Premiership Cup on Saturday. Alex Coles and Henry Pollock have also been added to the squad, with Curtis Langdon and Alex Lozowski dropping out. Northampton lock Coles played for his club in the Premiership Cup on Friday night after recovering from a wrist injury he picked up in mid-January. Tom Curry and George Martin are also back in training after picking up knocks during England's dramatic 26-25 win over France last weekend. Borthwick's side lost their opening game in the competition 27-22 at reigning champions Ireland.
BBC News
16-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
England recall Dombrandt to squad for Calcutta Cup clash
Alex Dombrandt has been recalled to Steve Borthwick's initial 36-man England squad for Saturday's Calcutta Cup match against Scotland at Harlequins number eight withdrew from the Six Nations opener with Ireland earlier this month through injury, but returned to club action against Saracens in the Premiership Cup on Coles and Henry Pollock have also been added to the squad, with Curtis Langdon and Alex Lozowski dropping out. Northampton lock Coles played for his club in the Premiership Cup on Friday night after recovering from a wrist injury he picked up in Curry and George Martin are also back in training after picking up knocks during England's dramatic 26-25 win over France last side lost their opening game in the competition 27-22 at reigning champions Ireland.
The Independent
16-02-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Alex Dombrandt recalled to England squad for Scotland clash
Alex Dombrandt has been recalled to Steve Borthwick's initial 36-man squad ahead of England's Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday. The Harlequins number eight underlined his return to fitness on Sunday with an impressive try-scoring performance in his side's narrow defeat to Saracens in the Premiership Cup. Alex Coles and Henry Pollock are also added to the squad in the wake of last week's win over France, while Curtis Langdon and Alex Lozowski are the ones to drop out. Forwards Tom Curry and George Martin are both named in the squad having trained away from the main group after picking up minor injuries in the wake of the 26-25 win over France. England head into the Calcutta Cup clash looking to keep alive their title hopes after bouncing back from their 27-22 round one defeat to reigning champions Ireland. Gregor Townsend's men, who have won the last four Calcutta Cup matches, will start in a similar position having fallen to defeat against the Irish following their opening win over Italy.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Alex Dombrandt recalled to England squad for Scotland clash
Alex Dombrandt has been recalled to Steve Borthwick's initial 36-man squad ahead of England's Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday. The Harlequins number eight underlined his return to fitness on Sunday with an impressive try-scoring performance in his side's narrow defeat to Saracens in the Premiership Cup. Alex Coles and Henry Pollock are also added to the squad in the wake of last week's win over France, while Curtis Langdon and Alex Lozowski are the ones to drop out. Ready for Calcutta Cup week 👊 A 36-player squad has assembled to continue preparations for our upcoming #GuinnessM6N match against Scotland 🌹@o2uk | #WearTheRose — England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) February 16, 2025 Forwards Tom Curry and George Martin are both named in the squad having trained away from the main group after picking up minor injuries in the wake of the 26-25 win over France. England head into the Calcutta Cup clash looking to keep alive their title hopes after bouncing back from their 27-22 round one defeat to reigning champions Ireland. Gregor Townsend's men, who have won the last four Calcutta Cup matches, will start in a similar position having fallen to defeat against the Irish following their opening win over Italy.
