Planet Rugby

Harlequins ready for run-in - O'Shea

17th March 2013 18:44

Conor O Shea Quins v Sale LV Cup final 2013

Over the moon: Conor O'Shea:

Harlequins boss Conor O'Shea expects competition for starting places to be fierce during their run-in for an unprecedented trophy treble.

Quins claimed the LV= Cup after a 32-14 win over Sale at Sixways and are still in the running to lift the Heineken Cup and retain their Aviva Premiership title.

O'Shea, who blooded several youngsters in the LV= Cup, said Quins' England contingent, who watched their triumph from the stands at Sixways, are determined to return to action.

"I'm just over the moon for the group," he said after the win.

"It is a long way into the season and we face a massive next nine weeks but, for those players, that is something that is a reminder to everyone coming back in the next couple of weeks.

"For the club, not only is it a major trophy. when you look at four guys in the tight five who are 21 and under, that is something for them to store away in their locker for years to come and they are the cornerstone of what this club will be about for a decade or more.

"They have won a national trophy and we said before the game not to take anything for granted because you never know when you will get there.

"We have been very fortunate to be in a number of finals in the last few years and to have come away with a trophy.

"There is a good vibe in the dressing room and a lot of very proud parents of young men but it sets us up to really attack what will be ups and down in the coming weeks.

"We know that. We have Saracens away and Gloucester away five days later, Munster in the Heineken Cup, Bath. Worcester, Northampton. It is just so unbelievably exciting for this group.

"Now everyone will have to play their part. We have a lot of quality to come in."

O'Shea praised Sale's gutsy showing in the final.

"We remembered during the game where we were three weeks ago in the league when we were 30-7 up, we switched off and then it was 30-21," he added.

'This will be disappointing for them but you know Steve Diamond will have them flying for next week."

Sale's rugby director Steve Diamond conceded that his side were beaten by a better side.

"We showed great spirit throughout but our skill set and application let us down at times on one-on-one tackles and then there is a mix-up in midfield just after half-time which really nailed us," he explained.

"But the spirit was good and we came across a side which are on the up. I've no complaints.

"We have got bigger fish to fry over the next weeks but we came here to give it our best shot and we are pleased with the effort. Just the skill set let us down."

Comments

Be the first to comment on this story..


Character Count : 0/1900

Forthcoming Fixtures
FixtureDetails
All times are local
International Match
Sunday , May 26
England vs Barbarians13:00
More International Match fixtures
Aviva Premiership
Saturday , May 25
Leicester vs Northampton15:00
More Aviva Premiership fixtures
RaboDirect PRO12
Saturday , May 25
Ulster vs Leinster16:45
More RaboDirect PRO12 fixtures
Top 14
Friday , May 24
Toulon vs Toulouse21:00
Saturday , May 25
Clermont Auvergne vs Castres16:30
More Top 14 fixtures
Super Rugby
Friday , May 24
Chiefs vs Crusaders08:35
Melbourne Rebels vs Waratahs10:40
Saturday , May 25
Blues vs Brumbies08:35
Western Force vs Highlanders10:40
Southern Kings vs Cheetahs16:00
Stormers vs Reds16:05
Sharks vs Bulls18:10
More Super Rugby fixtures
Recent Results
FixtureDetails
All times are local
Heineken Cup
Saturday , May 18
Clermont Auvergne 15 - 16 ToulonClermont Auvergne vs Toulon Report
More Heineken Cup results
Super Rugby
Crusaders 23 - 3 BluesCrusaders vs Blues Report
Bulls 35 - 18 HighlandersBulls vs Highlanders Report
Waratahs 28 - 22 BrumbiesWaratahs vs Brumbies Report
Cheetahs 27 - 13 RedsCheetahs vs Reds Report
More Super Rugby results
Amlin Challenge Cup
Friday , May 17
Stade Francais 13 - 34 LeinsterStade Francais vs Leinster Report
More Amlin Challenge Cup results
Super Rugby
Hurricanes 12 - 17 ChiefsHurricanes vs Chiefs Report
Melbourne Rebels 30 - 21 StormersMelbourne Rebels vs Stormers Report
Western Force 13 - 23 SharksWestern Force vs Sharks Report
More Super Rugby results
Aviva Premiership
Sunday , May 12
Saracens 13 - 27 NorthamptonSaracens vs Northampton Report
Saturday , May 11
Leicester 33 - 16 HarlequinsLeicester vs Harlequins Report
More Aviva Premiership results
RaboDirect PRO12
Leinster 17 - 15 GlasgowLeinster vs Glasgow Report
More RaboDirect PRO12 results
Top 14
Castres 25 - 12 MontpellierCastres vs Montpellier Report
More Top 14 results
Super Rugby
Blues 36 - 32 Melbourne RebelsBlues vs Melbourne Rebels Report
Southern Kings 34 - 27 HighlandersSouthern Kings vs Highlanders Report
Waratahs 21 - 15 StormersWaratahs vs Stormers Report
More Super Rugby results
RaboDirect PRO12
Friday , May 10
Ulster 28 - 17 ScarletsUlster vs Scarlets Report
More RaboDirect PRO12 results
Top 14
Stade Francais 19 - 16 Racing Metro Paris
Toulouse 33 - 19 Racing Metro ParisToulouse vs Racing Metro Paris Report
More Top 14 results
Super Rugby
Chiefs 22 - 21 Western ForceChiefs vs Western Force Report
Reds 32 - 17 SharksReds vs Sharks Report
Cheetahs 34 - 39 HurricanesCheetahs vs Hurricanes Report
Sunday , May 5
Brumbies 23 - 30 CrusadersBrumbies vs Crusaders Report
More Super Rugby results
Aviva Premiership
Saturday , May 4
Leicester 32 - 20 London IrishLeicester vs London Irish Report
Exeter 40 - 39 GloucesterExeter vs Gloucester Report
More Aviva Premiership results