Chiefs feel the power of Quins’ ‘battering ram’
Lasike honed technique from time in the NFL Baxter says Exeter paid price for lack of focus
Paul Lasike claims his time in American football was perfect grounding for the “battering ram” role he is being asked to perform as Harlequins attempt to smash their way into the Premiership play-offs.
The powerfully built New Zealand-born centre failed to make a major impact in the US Eagles’ disappointing display at the World Cup in Japan, but he is becoming a huge favourite among Stoop supporters with his bull-like rampages and crushing tackles.
He produced one of his now trademark try-scoring charges through the Exeter defence to help Harlequins stun the leaders with an injury-time bonus-point victory on Saturday as they won 34-30. Lasike’s destructive physicality is clearly a weapon Paul Gustard, the head of rugby, will continue to utilise in the thrust to improve on last season’s fifth-place finish.
Lasike, 29, said: “When I was in NFL, I was a battering ram. I was running into people just trying to block them. It’s a little different as instead of holding on to the ball you just go for the man. Here I am trying to run through people. You could say I am used to the job.
“Different players bring things to the table because everyone has strengths and weaknesses. One of my strengths is the direct carry and it makes sense to utilise my power. If I can help punch a few holes and get the team over the line, I am happy to do so. I have taken that on as part of my role.
“I will be hurting tonight because of it, but that’s part of the game. I had a couple of concussion problems last season, but that was down to technique more than the physicality of it. My head was on the wrong side of Will Skelton’s knee in one of them and then I came in flying in at a bad angle.
“I’ve been working hard on my technique to try to stay a bit higher and keep my head out of the way. Touch wood, I haven’t had any concussions so far this season.”
Lasike returned from the World Cup deflated, but he is enjoying a successful second season at the Stoop, and signed a recent contract extension. He said: “There was interest from some other clubs but, with my family here and kids at school, it was a no-brainer to choose to stay.
“I only came back to rugby after a four-year lay-off, so I feel like a rookie out there. Gus [Paul Gustard] has helped me improve so much as a player, especially my defence. He’s a defensive genius.”
Rob Baxter, the Exeter director of rugby, will be working hard on his side’s discipline following their fourth Premiership defeat of the campaign. They had two players sin-binned and conceded a late scrum penalty try as their pack, weakened by the absence of the likes of Luke Cowan-dickie and Harry Williams, came up second best.
Baxter said that rather than moan about refereeing decisions, such as the penalty try Christophe Ridley awarded Harlequins, Exeter needed to look at their own mistakes before they host Bath on Saturday.
“I don’t like to look at results and start talking about referees,” said Baxter.
“The reality is we need to have more discipline than that. We should play beyond that kind of scenario. We didn’t get our focus right and paid the price.”