Togetherness is Gustard mantra
Brendan Gallagher on the changes Paul Gustard is ringing at Harlequins
Quins Gustard exactly he himself was boss letting what in knew Paul for when stepped he down from England duties to take over at the Stoop this summer. As part of his England brief he watched all six Premiership games per round every Monday last year so he is fully acquainted with the good, bad and ugly at his new club. Particularly the ugly. Gustard has also spent three years working closely with Chris Robshaw, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Danny Care and Mike Brown so there has been no need for niceties and treading on eggshells at training this summer. Plain words have been spoken from the off without offence as Quins look to re-boot after a desperately disappointing 2017-18 campaign which saw them limp home a lowly tenth. Watching Quins over the last few seasons – and they have developed an incredibly loyal and patient fan base – has sometimes been a torturous business. Plainly too good to be relegated, but not good enough to challenge for top honours they too easily lost their way in a frustrating noman’s-land in which many games didn’t seem to matter in terms of avoiding relegation or winning silverware. When the mood took them – when for reasons unknown it really mattered – Quins could dig in and and claim a famous win against top quality opposition but for much of the time that steel and dog simply wasn’t there. Well that has to change. Every match, every point, every try conceded, has to hurt massively or else nothing can be achieved. That has to be your deault setting and Gustard was on the case immediately.
“My mantra if you like is ‘finding a way’ and that applies to training and games. In training you aren’t always at your best, for whatever reason. Not everything is rosey but you have got to find a way to maximise your performance that day at training or in the gym and if you can get that mentality it will help Quins improve their performance on the pitch.
“Last season has gone. When I first met the lads I started talking very positively about this season. I want them to enjoy coming to work and spending time with each other. I want them to love representing Quins. There is ‘being together’ and ‘been together’. I want them being together.” Of course Gustard will demand a stronger, better defence – a side conceding 78 tries is never going to be in the top four of the Premiership – but it’s not that simple. The line-out also became a shambles and tellingly one of his first major appointments was Alex Codling to work specifically in that area. Codling can nearly match Steve Borthwick in his love of a good line-out so expect this department to pick up very quickly.
There has been a significant player turnover from last season but no signings that you would necessarily recognise as game changers.
Nathan Earle is a direct young wing with great wheels who wasn't getting enough game time at Sarries but he will come into play only if Quins can get on the front foot.
Ditto Australian centre Ben Tapuai who has some silky skills but you suspect it is destructive tackling that might come into play most and that also underpins the signing of US Eagles centre Paul Lasike, a former NFL professional With the injury situation as it was last season too much was asked of Marcus Smith who coped heroically with the workload but occasionally to Quins detriment. Smith is a very individualistic, off the cuff ten and although there were brilliant moments from him he didn’t always bring the control the other Quins backs might have preferred. At the age of 19 he will be a marked man this season. It could be dificult.
“It’s only difficult if you say it’s difficult,” counters Gustard. “You can say it’s going to be a long season or you could say that means there are going to be lots of opportunities. Marcus is thirsty to develop and grow and we will help him get there.”
Much the same could be said for Quins generally.