Jones: We must match them up front because speed of ball at breakdown is key
WELFORD Road will today stage the biggest game of the Premiership season so far.
Unbeaten leaders Leicester face the champions Harlequins, George Ford will be up against the outside-half who has taken his place in the England squad, Marcus Smith, and there promises to be a stark contrast in style.
Leicester have forged a big lead at the top of the table through the foundation laid by their forwards, together with the control of their half-backs, while Quins have a greater sense of adventure, although it has yet to generate the consistency that took them to the title in the second half of last season.
“It is probably harsh to say they have a simple gameplan, but we know what is coming,” said the
Quins and Scotland centre, Huw Jones. “They are big and physical and direct in attack; they kick a lot as well. We have done our analysis and will be prepared.
“It is up to us to front up physically. That is going to be key in defence and attack. We will need to get quick ball and to do that we have to be as physical as them and get over the gainline. We are up for it and they will be as well. It should be a very good game.”
It is the Premiership fixture that Quins have had least success in over the years. They won only one of their first 26 meetings with the Tigers in the competition, although they have shaded the following 22 with 11 victories to ten, including the 2012 final, and one draw.
“Leicester have been in brilliant form this season and it will be a massive challenge,” said Jones. “They will want to impose their game on us and we will try and do the opposite and try and play a bit more than them.
“The key will be the speed of ball we generate at the breakdown. I expect they will try and slow down every ruck and to get tempo into the game, we will need to be really physical. It will be tough, a case of heads down and get on with it.”
Harlequins’ stuttering start to the season saw them last weekend lose at home for the second successive match, London Irish following Saracens in securing a narrow victory at The Stoop. The hosts were without Smith and No.8 Alex Dombrandt, who were given the week off after their England duty.
“We have to play well no matter who is on the park,” said Jones. “It is not about one or two players. We have yet to put together a convincing 80 minutes this season, whether Marcus or Dommers have been there or not, and we cannot rely on star players being available. We all have to do our bit.”
The 27-year-old Jones joined Quins from Glasgow in the summer and although he has yet to start a league match with his six appearances coming from the bench, he is revelling in his new environment.
“A big difference here from clubs I have been at before is that we train less but when we are on it, we are on it,” he said. “There is no wasted time and a real enjoyment around what we do.
“We are happy here and it makes a difference when you look forward to coming into work. It has been a change for me and I am loving it. It has been refreshing because while there is pressure on you to get results, you do not feel it during the week because you are enjoying the challenge rather than thinking you have to do this or that.
“It is a more light-hearted approach. We put in the work but you go into a game happy and ready to express yourself, rather than playing within yourself because you have been too stressed. It is a great club to be at.”
Jones was in Scotland’s squad for the Autumn Internationals, but did not feature in any of their three games, unlike Matt Scott, the Leicester centre who started against South Africa.
“It was tough travelling up, not being picked and then being sent back,” said Jones. “A lack of game time after an injury in the summer counted against me and I was not quite ready. I thought I trained well and I want to kick on with Quins and put myself in a good place when the Six Nations comes around.”