Frank advice on beating the empty ground blues
SELF-MOTIVATED STARS WILL BE KEY FOR QUINS
CHELSEA boss Frank Lampard has let rugby club Harlequins into the secret of winning games behind closed doors.
In so doing, he has left the Londoners in no doubt that England duo Mike Brown and Chris Robshaw will be key to their play-off push when the sport resumes next month.
Lampard has steered his Blues to the FA Cup final and seven wins out of nine playing without fans – and so impressed Paul Gustard that Quins’ head of rugby called him up to pick his brains.
“I wanted to know how his players responded, how they found playing in empty stadiums,” said Gustard. “Because the unknown can lead to uncertainty.
“Our players are
going to go into an environment which they probably have not experienced since they have been in school, where there is no crowd, nobody there.”
The pair have known each other since meeting on a coaching course and Lampard’s advice was that what you most need are self-driven players.
Gustard immediately thought of Brown and Robshaw.
“Those are the personality types you want when there is nobody driving you from outside,” he said. “No mums or dads or girlfriends or mates in the crowd cheering you on and it has to come from inside you. For Mike that is a real strength he has got that can add value to us.” Brown was not expected to play again this season after having knee surgery in November, while Robshaw’s contract ended on July 1. But rugby’s five-month hiatus has allowed Brown the time to get fit and Quins have offered the US-bound Robshaw short-term deal to
asee out the extended season. Gustard said: “Browny has worked incredibly hard during his time away and has returned leaner and a bit bigger. He is fiercely determined to play and we anticipate having him fully available for game one.
“He has been at the spine of this team for 11 years now. To have somebody of his character and his talent back is huge.”
Quins host the first Premiership game back, against Sale on August 14, and before then will train, 15 v 15, in their empty Stoop stadium to replicate the match environment.
“As Eddie Jones often says, with clarity you get confidence,” said Gustard. “It will be good for us to know and experience what we’re about to play.”