Quins freeze on big stage

HARLEQUINS are resigned to being without England duo Chris Robshaw and Danny Care for Friday’s rematch with Ulster after both players were concussed in the home defeat yesterday.

Ireland wing Jacob Stockdale scored Ulster’s try and John Cooney added four penalties to pick up the man-of-the-match award at a wintry Stoop – a moment missed by Care after he was barged in the face by teammate Archie White’s behind.

It was Quins’ third loss in three matches in Europe and ended their chances of reaching the knockout stages. “We are not going to qualify and it has been disappointing,” said director of rugby John Kingston.

“We haven’t been in the competition for three years so you are not going to spring into it and win it, but you must learn your lessons from being in it. We points after they despatched Wasps 49-29 yesterday.

Six tries from the home side in an intoxicating display of attacking rugby underlined their potency – although Wasps did not help themselves with yellow cards for Thomas Young and Juan de Jongh.

“They showed some real class when they got on the front foot,” said Wasps director of rugby Dai Young. “Some of their offloads were fantastic and they have the physicality to punch it up as well.

“We knew they were going to be a quality team, but we gifted them a few points as well which didn’t help.”

La Rochelle were 30-12 up by half-time with Fijian flanker Levani Botia crashing through for the first of his two tries.

Wasps manfully hung onto the French side’s coat-tails with Elliot Daly, Joe Simpson and Will Stuart adding to first-half tries from Rob Miller and Young to earn a bonus point.