LEICESTER & QUINS: RUGBY’S FALLEN GIANTS
DAN COLE hoped England’s worst Six Nations campaign for 35 years would be as bad as it got. Then he went back to Leicester.
England’s most successful club had not failed to make the play-off semi-finals since 2004. Back-toback home defeats changed that.
“It’s been a fairly tough time,” the 30-year-old prop said with heavy understatement. “This season has been a big learning experience.”
It could still get worse, as Leicester are at Sale today knowing defeat might well cost them European rugby for the first time.
“We put ourselves in a position to be in the play-offs but we didn’t achieve it, we failed,” Cole (right) said. “It shows we are not good enough. We know where we are and where we need to be and they’re two different places.
“Embarrassed is a strong word. We are not performing where we need to be. But to say we’re embarrassed discredits the other teams in the league. Disappointed and hurt? Yes.”
Scrapping for the final Champions Cup spot is not where the 10-time English champions expected to be.
Cole added: “The club’s historic success breeds an expectation, but let’s be realistic. The league is so much more competitive than it was 10 years ago.” DANNY CARE says Harlequins have hit rock bottom – but has demanded a performance for outgoing boss John Kingston. Quins have fallen apart since the turn of the year, winning just one Premiership game and, in the last month, being thrashed by the division’s bottom two sides. Today, in Kingston’s final match in charge, they face Exeter, champions last season and still the best team in the land. It could get messy. “We’ve got absolutely nothing to lose,” admitted Care (left). “The only thing people can say is how bad we are and people are already saying that.” This is not the way it was meant to end for Kingston after 597 games, four trophies and 17 years at the club.
Quins boast England stars Care, Chris Robshaw, Mike Brown, Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler. They were champions of England six years ago.
“No one is more hurt and embarrassed at the state we’re in than us,” Care, 31, added. “The fans are frustrated, understandably so. Some have voiced their opinions and they’re completely entitled to do so.
“We want to send John off on a high – the high he deserves. We want to prove to those asking questions of us as players that we do care.
“Sometimes you have to reach the bottom to realise it.”