Quins out to prove title run was no fluke
SECOND in the table meets third at The Stoop today, champions Harlequins against Saracens, the club that won the title four times in five years from 2019.
But neither side is in raptures about the start they have made to the season on a day when both will be without four players who are on England duty.
Saracens, who have scored 164 points in their last three matches against Newcastle, Bath and Wasps, are not happy with some aspects of their defence outside their 22 while Quins are still waiting for an 80minute performance ahead of what will be their most searching examination this season.
“We have not hit our straps yet,” said attack coach Nick Evans. “We had a great second half against Bristol and were good in patches against Bath last weekend, but we have left a number of opportunities out there and against a top side like Saracens you will only get two or three. You need to nail them.
“We need to step up because we have been inaccurate at times when teams have put us under pressure. Saracens are a very good side who enjoyed success in a different way to us. There is a natural style competitiveness about this fixture and you have to be at your best against them.”
Harlequins will be without their England quartet Marcus Smith, Alex Dombrandt, Joe Marler and Joe Marchant while Saracens have lost Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Jamie George and Max Malins. The return match in February will be similarly hit as it will be played during the Six Nations.
“It is disappointing because you want both teams to be fully loaded, but it is the nature of the beast,” said Evans. “We just have to work hard to make the play-offs and we may meet them then. It is a fixture when the little things have to be done really well, like rucking and kick chasing, not the stuff you see on Instagram.”
Quins came from nowhere last season to win the title and the fact they did so after finishing fourth in the table in a season when Saracens were in the Championship has led to their achievement being questioned with critics doubting whether they could rightfully be billed as the best team in England. “I know what is being said,” Evans, below, remarked. “We have the trophy and it is in the cabinet. I know what we achieved and 11 other clubs did not. People can say what they want and we can use it for motivation, but we just want to push boundaries and get better. “Every game seems like a final. Maybe teams do not feel we are worthy champions, but you only have to look at Sale’s reaction after they beat us and how they celebrated. That a really good, well coached team sees us in that light gives us confidence.” Stephan Lewies, the Quins captain who is on the bench today having missed the first five matches of the campaign because of a toe injury, said they were motivated to make it two titles in a row because no one would be able to dismiss retaining the trophy as a fluke.
“Everyone seems to think we were a bit lucky,” he said. “It means we still have the tag of underdogs and we like that. It fuels us and it does not matter if people think we deserved it last season. We stick to our systems and express ourselves. We are process driven and do not look outwards too much.
“We had a chat after the Bath game and agreed that while we won four of our first five matches, we were not close to where we want to be. We can, and need to, get better and as a Harlequin, the one game you want to play is against Saracens. Joe Marler asked to play but was not allowed to (by England). We will be up for it.”
Quins have won four of their last five home Premiership matches against Sarries and are unbeaten at home in the league since Boxing Day last year when Bristol prevailed. Their last nine at The Stoop have been bonus point victories, and when they last played Saracens at home 22 months ago, they scored six tries in a 41-14 win.