We’re 6/10 so far but still have a way to go
NEALE HARVEY sits down with supremo Paul Gustard to assess Harlequins’ start to the new campaign
Paul Gustard believes he is close to ridding Harlequins of their soft touch image. Six weeks into the Premiership season, Quins are the only side other than breakaway duo Exeter and Saracens to have taken points from every game. Defensively they are the second best side in the competition behind Exeter, having conceded just 13 tries. But two wins from six matches does not look great on paper.
However, hard-nosed head of rugby Gustard believes further improvements in set-piece and try-scoring will transform his side from Premiership mediocrity into top four contenders.
Gustard, England’s defence coach before quitting for Quins in June, told
The Rugby Paper: “Our league position (sixth) is probably about right – it’s a six out of ten.
“We’ve shown in glimpses how good we can be ball in hand and defensively we’ve made significant improvement. But our set-piece has been an Achilles heel, particularly at our lineout, and that’s one of the areas, along with tryscoring, we’re putting a lot into.
“Before taking over the role I’d probably been down here 12-15 times in my previous job and I had a reasonable grasp of where Quins were from the outside looking in.
“One, I felt we could improve training standards; two, I felt we could coach better; and three, I thought I could make a difference defensively and get the right person (Alex Codling) in to help with the lineout – areas that have been Achilles heels for two seasons.
“At the moment the defence is functioning and to a man the players have been brilliant in training, but it’s our attack that’s probably mid-table. It’s a balancing act and we haven’t gone lopsided with defending, but we’ll try to get more ingenuity into our attack.” Gustard’s decision to leave England raised eyebrows with a World Cup imminent. However, after previously playing and coaching in the Premiership for 19 years before joining England in 2016, the 42-year-old explained: “I missed being around people and missed coaching players day-to-day to see how I could develop them from certain points in their careers.
“When England reconvene in a couple of weeks and I see the excitement of working at that level, it’s always going to be something you want to do as a player coach. But I’m so excited about being a Harlequin now and how I can help make this club great again.
“For me the joy of day-in, day out coaching outweighs anything I might feel I’m missing in Test rugby. That’s not to say I wouldn’t go abroad in future or go back to international rugby at some stage; it’s just that right here, right now, Harlequins feels right.
“I gave up the opportunity to coach at a World Cup, which I’ll have to live with, but that’s fine because I’m coaching a club that I have a lot of respect for – not just at board level, but the fans and a passionate group of players who are willing to improve.
“I’ve got no jealousy, no angst or any axe to grid with England. I’ve made my decision, supported by Eddie Jones, and I’m still in regular contact with him. He gave me my first coaching job (at Saracens) and is still a great source
“We’ve been the most tenacious team out there... we’re heading in the right direction”
of knowledge if I wish to use it.”
While Harlequins lag 15 points behind the leaders, the fact Gustard’s side gave champions Saracens their stiffest test to date last week speaks volumes. Gustard added: “They and Exeter are one and two by some distance but had we beaten Saracens we’d now have been fourth, just a few points behind them.
“We’ve had the most bonus points and been the most tenacious team out there, having hung on in games or fought back to get some important points. We’re heading in the right direction and if our performances continue to grow, as I expect them to, we’ll become hugely competitive this season.”