Carefree Quins vets can steer kids to silverware
ATTACK coach Nick Evans believes Harlequins old lags have enough miles left in their legs to help fire the club’s top four hopes.
The former New Zealand fly-half, below, has watched as scrum-half Danny Care, 34, and fullback Mike Brown, 35, have rolled back the years to light up the Stoop since the departure of head of rugby Paul Gustard.
The pair plus another veteran in Joe Marler, have inspired young guns Marcus Smith and Alex Dombrandt to press their England claims.
Care and Brown’s England days may be over, with 156 caps between them, but Evans says the pair have had a new lease of life since the international shackles have been taken off.
Evans said: “With Danny almost being told he is not in, it subconsciously loosens him up a little bit. There is a bit of that and a little bit of what we are doing at the club aligning with what he is as a player.
“They are executing the plan that we give them. Someone like Danny Care is the club’s heartbeat. The blood that runs through the heart of the club is someone like Danny. He is the social glue and the tempo glue. When I first came over in 2008...I see that same young kid now which is great. That is what we want.
“And Mike Brown at the back is that solid world class player, demanding such high standards for
what we do. He knows the fine margins needed to win games. Those two are really leading by example.
“Those guys have taken a lot more of the leadership and accountability at training and what is happening in the games.”
Smith, Dombrandt and centre Joe Marchant should be in contention for England’s summer Tests against USA and Canada. Flanker Will Evans would also come into the reckoning provided yesterday’s leg injury is not too serious.
Evans also believes Marler, below, should not be making too many holiday plans.
He added: “Joe has been brilliant. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a bolter for the Lions – he is a world class scrummager. Our scrum is number one in the league and he is a big part of that.
“When he carries, he carries hard and defensively it is shown how destructive he is. He is in a good place, he is a bit of a social glue with some of the ways he conducts himself leading the group, and the way he talks. He might play it loose but he is a smart guy, he knows rugby and he knows what it takes to play at that top level and to win big cups and campaigns.
“A lot of guys are putting their hands up for coaches at international level. When the big games come the coaches want to see that performance level.
“As we get closer and closer to the end of the season if your performances are there you are putting your hand up. Those guys are doing exactly that and hopefully they are getting noticed.”