Kay: Tough ask but Quins can do it

BEN KAY believes qualification for the quarter-finals would be Harlequins’ biggest step forward under Paul Gustard.

After being ground down by Munster and defeated 21-7 at Thomond Park last week, Quins today welcome last season’s finalists to Twickenham Stoop.

Now in the third season of Gustard’s tenure, Quins’ transformation is yet to blossom into serious trophy contention, but a win today would boost their hopes of reaching the knock-outs.

“Quins have it tough but that is European rugby,” two-time Heineken Cup winner Kay told TRP. “If they win at home this week, they are right back in it.

“It is the toughest schedule, without a doubt, but Paul Gustard will still feel it is doable despite losing at Thomond Park. There is no disgrace in losing 21-7 there, even with no fans.

“This is a Quins team that Paul has said himself needs a change to the squad’s age profile. If he wants to be a European force you have to learn the lessons of going away to Thomond and knowing what it takes to win there. They were more in the game than the scoreline suggested.

“If they pull out a performance this weekend, they can back themselves to go to Racing and win at La Defense Arena and then welcome Munster at home.”

Racing will arrive in south-west London having edged Connacht 26-22 in the opening round.

They will be aided by the return of France stars Teddy Thomas, Virimi Vakatawa and Camille Chat as the rumbling club-versus-country dispute between the FFR and LNR meant several senior members of

France’s squad returned home instead of playing in the Autumn Nation Cup final.

It’s no surprise that seven of the eight competing French clubs earned victories thanks in large part to their extra week’s worth of preparation, with Kay, below, saying the biggest threat to Exeter’s Champions Cup defence stems from Top 14 giants Racing, Toulouse and Clermont.

“If I had to pick the top four teams that have impressed me most it would be Leinster, Exeter, Toulouse and Clermont,” Kay added. “Leinster definitely have a good route through.

“From there you then have the secondary tier of Racing, Munster and Wasps. If you look at how the fixtures fall for them, I think maybe those are the teams that benefitted most from the first week.

“With the shortened format the first win was always going to be important; you had seven French teams win last weekend.”

Watch every single Heineken Champions Cup fixture live on BT Sport, starting with Scarlets v RC Toulon on Friday 18th December from 5pm on BT Sport 2