Head hunted
‘PHENOMENAL’ DOMBRANDT’S FIT FOR ENGLAND JOB
Harlequins 26
By ADAM HATHAWAY
QUINS boss Tabai Matson reckons Alex Dombrandt is ready for Test rugby again after his six-week break.
The No.8 had been out since September 17 with a hamstring injury, and missed England’s summer tour with a knee problem – but he scored a try here as Quins staged another come-frombehind victory.
Irish flanker Ben Donnell and Quins full-back Nick David were both sent off for high shots, but Charlie Matthews escaped a card for taking out Exiles centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg in the air.
If referee Craig Maxwell-Keys
London Irish 24
HAD penalised Matthews, Quins would never have scored their winner.
Hooker George Head struck five minutes into stoppage-time to nick victory after Paddy Jackson’s 70th-minute penalty had edged Exiles ahead.
Dombrandt (left) and Co shoved Head over from a driving lineout, shortly after the Matthews incident, and Matson reckons his back-rower is fully firing again.
He said: “For Alex to come back at that level of competition for 80 minutes is phenomenal. He had a big impact, not just what he did as a player but those around him.
“He’s definitely international calibre at loose forward. Not many people can step into the breach and do a really good job, so we’re happy he’s back.”
Irish boss Declan Kidney refused to be drawn on the Van Rensburg challenge until he had taken another look at the tape – but his side must be fuming.
They were 21-7 up, then 24-21 up at the death, and had spent all afternoon tackling like men possessed.
Kidney said: “It was a mid-air competition, interpreted as a fair contest. I would need to take a look at it.
“When you lose in the last play of the game, it is disappointing.”
Josh Bassett had started his first game for Quins – after moving from bust Wasps last week – with a yellow card for a deliberate knock on. And when the winger was off the pitch, Irish scored twice, through No.8 So’otala Fa’aso’o and Donnell, so Bassett was ‘in the red’ too.
But Quins got a foothold in the game thanks to fly-half Tommy Allan, in for Marcus Smith, who bagged two tries in his 16 points, though the home side could not get the lead.
Irish wing Ollie HassellCollins scored a powerful try just after Donnell’s red and Allan’s first try, and Irish thought they had it in the bag when Jackson struck from 40m.
But Dombrandt and his pack knew better, driving Head over to snatch the points. HARLEQUINS: Tries: Allan (2), Dombrandt, Head; Cons: Allan (3). LONDON IRISH: Tries: Fa’aso’o, Donnell, Hassell-Collins; Cons: Jackson (3); Pens: Jackson.