NEW BENCHMARC
Quins keen to finally be a knockout
HARLEQUINS V GLASGOW
8PM, TNT SPORTS
MARCUS SMITH spearheads Harlequins’ bid to break new ground against Glasgow at the Stoop tonight.
The fly-half leads the charge as Quins strive to survive a Champions Cup knockout tie for the first time.
Win this last-16 clash with the highflying Scots and the Londoners will earn a home quarter-final against Saracens or Bordeaux Begles next weekend.
Quins have been in the quarters before this last-16 round was introduced, but have never got further and are desperate to break their knockout duck.
Head coach Danny Wilson, who has also coached at Glasgow, said: “Quins have never progressed from a knockout game in the top level in Europe, so it is an opportunity to do something for the first time in the club’s history.
“In the past, they have been in quarter-finals but this game didn’t exist to get into the quarter-finals.
“To progress from a knockout game in Europe is our goal – then anything can happen with three games until you could come away with a trophy.”
Quins are just about fully loaded, with Danny Care partnering Smith at halfback, Springboks centre Andre Esterhuizen starting, Louis Lynagh and Cadan Murley on the wing and No.8 Alex Dombrandt on duty. Glasgow, second in the URC, have 11 Scotland internationals in their starting XV and have been handed a massive boost with the return of Sione Tuipulotu.
The centre has not played since injuring his knee in Scotland’s Calcutta Cup victory against England on February 24 and was expected to be out for three months but is back in half the time.
Wilson, who lost his job at Glasgow in 2022, added: “We both know each other really well.
“I coached at Glasgow for two years and had two and a half years with Scotland and, as much as I know about them, they know about me, so it probably levels itself out.
“We are playing a large budget side who are full of internationals, the majority of whom were involved in the Scotland win over England.
“They have invested a huge amount of money in that squad and built a lot of depth over the past three or four years.
“Crucially they have also been able to keep a lot of really good internationals in Scotland.
“We will have to be right on top of our game.”