We’re not one-hit wonders says Dom

QUINS TAKE ON DOUBTERS

HARLEQUINS V LEICESTER 3PM, BT SPORT By Alex Spink

ALEX DOMBRANDT and his team are on a mission to prove that Harlequins did not “fluke” winning the Premiership last season.

The England star is hot favourite to wear the No.8 shirt in Australia this summer following news that rival Sam Simmonds is a major injury doubt.

But his focus is squarely on today’s clash with leaders Leicester, one of only two teams above Quins in the table.

A week after their painful exit from Europe, Dombrandt insists the Londoners are “galvanised as a group” by the challenge of winning back-toback domestic titles.

“A lot of people thought we fluked winning the

Premiership last year,” he said, recalling how Quins finished fourth in the table, overturned a 28-0 deficit to win their semi-final at Bristol then bagged two late tries to beat Exeter at Twickenham.

“A lot of people reckon we got lucky – that passes went to hand and the bounce of the ball went our way. They say defence wins you championships and many thought it was an anomaly that Quins won it the way we did – and wrote us off, didn’t give us a chance this season.”

They have a chance all right, albeit in trying circumstances with four games against top-six opponents to finish the regular season. They rank No.1 for tries scored and bonus points. “People now hopefully think we are real contenders to do it again,” Dombrandt added. “But I still think there’s quite a few out there who don’t think we can. “That definitely galvanises us as a group, and me personally, to prove those doubters wrong.” Dombrandt passes the armband back to fit-again Stephan Lewies, with Quins warned to shake off last week’s Euro exit or risk being “humiliated”.

Tigers leave England props Ellis Genge and Dan Cole on the bench, give a Premiership debut to Kiwi No.8 Sean Jansen and a first league start to openside Olly Robinson. “Leicester are on cloud nine, the way they are going,” said Dombrandt. “But there’s no better game for us after Montpellier than at home to the top-of-the table team in front of a sell-out crowd.” ❑ EALING have abandoned hope of reaching the Premiership three weeks after winning the second-tier Championship for the first time.

The London-based club have withdrawn their appeal against the decision that their ground does not meet the required standard.