RUGBY UNION CHAMPIONS CUP LAUNCH INTO ORBIT
Lock Joe warns Quins not to spurn big chance to reach semis
JOE LAUNCHBURY has urged his Harlequins not to waste their Champions Cup chance today – because they don’t grow on trees.
The lock, who joined Quins this season via Japan after Wasps’ collapse, starts as the Londoners face a massive task in their quarter-final against Bordeaux Begles.
In a dozen seasons at Wasps, Launchbury made the last eight of Europe’s top tournament only three times and lost two of those ties.
Harlequins, Premiership winners in 2021, have a dismal record in the competition and last week’s win over Glasgow Warriors (Will Trenholm and Will Evans celebrate a try, right) was the first time they have ever got through a knockout tie.
But Launchbury has told his side quarter-finals are the minimum they should be aiming for every year, as they head to France.
Launchbury said: “We have talked about the opportunity we have. You don’t get many of these games and, arguably, winning the league a few years ago with such a young team hurt Quins.
“They would be the first to admit it that they thought they would make these big games every year, but it doesn’t actually work like that. They are starting to realise that and hopefully this squad will go on, in the time I am here and when I am gone, being competitive.
“Harlequins, with the squad they have, there is no reason why they shouldn’t be making the quarters of these competitions and that should be what they aim for. When I first started at Wasps, we spent a couple of years playing in the Challenge Cup, but I always wanted to play in the main competition. I remember nearly leaving Wasps because I was so desperate to play in it and, at the time, Wasps were a bit off qualifying. “Those quarters and even the semifinal we lost against Saracens were great memories and I have been trying to get that through to this group.” Quins are up against it facing a French outfit who put 100 points on Saracens in two games earlier in the tournament.
Launchbury added: “You don’t see many teams do that. I played against them a few years ago and they have always had talent, but they are definitely a different team now.”
Scrum-half Danny Care and prop Joe Marler are missing but Launchbury starts with Marcus Smith at 10, who is partnered at half-back by Will Porter.
And back row Chandler Cunningham-South is back for his first action since the Six Nations after recovering
from a calf injury.