DISCUSSION POINTS

A change will do you good. That’s what Quins will be hoping this season. Having dispensed with the services of John Kingston at the end of last season and also lost Graham Rowntree, Nick Easter and Collin Osborne from their coaching roster, the pressure is on Paul Gustard to revive the flagging fortunes of the 2012 champions.

They have been more shrewd in their recruitment, looking to plug holes caused by England call-ups during international periods rather than signing players who are also likely to be on Test duty, but it will take a significant overhaul to get a squad that has been far less than the sum of its parts in recent years competing for top honours.

Marcus Smith should improve his game management on the back of his breakthrough season and discipline must get better too – only Northampton conceded more than Quins’ 227 penalties last season. Gustard will also be working to shore up a defence that conceded 640 points in the 2017-18 league.