This mid-table clash sees seventh-placed Harlequins host 9th placed Gloucester at the ‘Home Of Rugby.’
To Win (80 mins)
Harlequins 3/10 | Draw 21/1 | Gloucester 5/2
Harlequins
Former England captain Chris Robshaw makes his return to the starting XV as the sole change to John Kingston’s Harlequin’s side set to tackle Gloucester on Tuesday. Continuity is key for this Quinn’s team, who will be looking to one-up their disappointing defeat at Newcastle on the 16th, as their settled side keeps on with their established half-back pairing of Ruaridh Jackson and captain Danny Care, while loosehead prop and England international Joe Marler, makes his 100th Premiership appearance for his beloved club. It’s scary to think how many caps this young man will end up with come the end of his career, as the burly forward is only 26 years of age!
Gloucester
Meanwhile, Gloucester have rung the changes, making five in total to the starting XV that went down to La Rochelle on the 17th of this month. Scotsman Greg Laidlaw will resume the captaincy on his return, while Billy Twelvetrees, Ross Moriarty, Paddy McAllister and Mariano Galarza all come into the side respectively. Gloucester will be looking to overtake Quinn’s on the Aviva Premiership table with a win here at Twickenham, and leapfrog both them and the Newcastle Falcons (who all sit on 23 points apiece).
Verdict: Harlequins 3/10
In what is sure to be a scrappy, low-scoring encounter, don’t bet on another 10 tries being scored, as was the case when this fixture played out a year ago, ending in a 39-all draw. This while be a war of attrition, with the result depending on forward dominance and the boots of Captains Care and Laidlaw at half-back. Come the final whistle, however, it should be Care’s Quinn’s that come out trumps (expect Marler to have a stormer and boss the scrums). Playing at home, and with hardly any disruption to their starting line-up as opposed to their rivals, back Harlequins to make their Christmas season all the merrier.
Written by Shaun Goosen for @Hollywoodbets.net!
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