‘Disjointed’ Harlequins lacking ‘identity’ but England great believes Investec Champions Cup showdown the catalyst for change
Harlequins' fly-half Marcus Smith and an inset of England legend Ben Youngs.
Ben Youngs is eager to find out ‘what is going on at Harlequins’ as the PREM Rugby club continues to struggle this season.
The Famous Quarters head into the second fortnight of Investec Champions Cup action off the back of three hammering defeats in their league and are ranked eighth overall, winning just two of their first nine domestic fixtures.
Despite their struggles in the PREM, Harlequins have fared reasonably well in pool three of the Champions Cup, having collected six points from the first two rounds, which ranks them third overall behind this week’s opponents, the DHL Stormers, and Irish giants Leinster, respectively.
The results in December have been a cause for concern, however, as heavy defeats to Sale Sharks, Bristol Bears and Northampton Saints prompted a statement from club leaders.
What’s going on at Harlequins?
And legendary England scrum-half Youngs is eager to get to the bottom of what the root cause of the problem is.
“What on earth is going on at Harlequins at the moment? They take on the Stormers this weekend, and I’m actually going to the game – I’m going with Investec, and I need to find out and get to the bottom of what is happening,” the former Leicester Tiger said on the For the Love of Rugby podcast, previewing round three’s action.
“So, I’m going to the Stoop as a fan for the first time ever, and I’m finding out what is happening.”
Fellow England great Dan Cole added: “It’s been a tough Christmas period for them, for the club as well.
“They’ve lost three games quite heavily. They’ve conceded 66 points against Northampton, 43 against Sale and 40 against Bristol – they lost those three games by a combined score of 149 points to 52.
“Unfortunately, one of those games was the Big Game that was played at the Allianz; a huge number of people were there; it’s obviously a massive day for Quins, and it didn’t go the best for them, and there was a club statement that came out as well.”
Harlequins’ season got off to a rocky start with the news that head coach Danny Wilson would be departing the club to link up with Wales’ backroom staff, which followed director of rugby Billy Millard’s exit to Connacht. Jason Gilmore has since been entrusted with heading up the charge this season.
Youngs further detailed the club’s struggles and was forthright in his view that there is no lack of effort from the players, but added that the usual Harlequins flair is lacking.
“So, there’s been a bit of change. One thing I’m guessing that will maybe be upsetting the fans and everything is that they’re conceding a high number of tries and points,” he said.
“Therefore, the natural thing is to look and say, ‘Oh, there’s a lack of effort, they don’t care,’ and that is never the case. There’ll be loads of effort, and there’ll be loads of care. I think the big thing that a lot of people are looking at as well is you’re not really seeing the Quins’ identity.
“So, conceding a load of points is one thing, but Quins have always conceded quite heavily, but they’ve almost outscored you. It’s the mindset that you score four, we’ll score five. You score six, we’ll score seven. That’s sort of their mindset and how they play, but we’re not really even seeing that attacking part of their game particularly flourish either.
“It looks really disjointed, and I don’t want to start this because we’re not about this on this show. I wouldn’t say it looks unhappy, but it certainly looks like they’ve kind of lost their clarity, the thing that makes them Quins. I don’t quite see it, or I certainly haven’t seen it for the last sort of four weeks or so.”
Harlequins release 114-word statement after heavy loss at Northampton Saints
Defeats came against PREM Rugby’s best
Adding some perspective, Cole highlighted the fact that the Londoners have faced two of PREM Rugby’s two in-form clubs in Bristol and Northampton. He also pointed to the lack of star power in the pack, which they possessed when they won the league in 2021.
“The fact that they’ve met a Bristol who we know can score huge amounts of points quickly, as they did. Also, you look at Northampton, they’re on fire at the minute,” the former front-rower said.
“So, you’ve probably met the two teams that are in form in the Premiership and at the top of the table. It’s tough to take, and that’s obviously where you want to be, and you look at those teams, and you are envious of them.
“Unfortunately, you’ve just met them in the two weeks on the bounce. In terms of Quins, it’s funny because they’ve had Danny Wilson in, and he is a bit more pragmatic compared to what people typically think is the Quins way.
“But when Quins won the league, they had Marler and Wilco Louw; they had a great forward pack. So Quins are almost at their best, have a forward pack that can maul and brawl – didn’t they kick the ball more than anyone the year they won the league? It’s almost not a misconception, but everyone’s like ‘Oh Quins is entertain, entertain, entertain’, but they are at their best when they are almost not pragmatic but quite good defensively and have that bit of skill or the skill players that can bring flair.
“It’s tough and a lot of changes, losing their head coach a week before the season, it definitely upsets the balance of things. We’ve been in those teams. Whereas a player, losing is a habit, and sometimes, you can’t buy a win for love nor money, and sometimes, games just get away from you. And it’s not through lack of effort or trying.
“It’s just the fact that I say other teams are more settled and balanced, and you have to find a performance. I’m sure at some point, they’ll dig deep and get a victory and find some form. It’s probably worse at Christmas time because all eyes are on the Prem.”
Opportunity awaits
While Youngs and Cole emphasised the poor run of form, the former does believe that this weekend’s Champions Cup clash against the Stormers at the Stoop is a perfect chance for the Famous Quarters to turn their season around.
The break from PREM Rugby provides a reset of sorts for the club.
“Sometimes when you’re in that situation where things just aren’t going to plan, and you are leaking points… a break from the Prem now into Investec Champions Cup is almost perfect timing for them,” he added.
“They’ve got the Stormers rolling into town. Stormers are two from two. They’re in a great spot, playing very good rugby and coming to the Stoop.
“It’s almost break away from that Prem and this week they feel different, and it’s a perfect opportunity for them on the Sunday when they take them on to go, at home and get that performance out there.
“They will need players like Dombrandt, Murley, Marcus Smith, Will Evans, and Jack Kenningham; there is no end of players there more than capable of performing without a doubt, to get out there and grab hold of it. I think that’s what we’ll see at the weekend. I hope so because they’ve got a load of talent in that team, and you want them to find themselves.
“You want them to find form, and this game with the Stormers rolling into town is the perfect game for them to go out there and hone in on what they’re about.”
The Stormers arrive in the UK on a 10-match winning streak this season and are in the running for home play-off games in the round of 16 and quarter-final, which is a further threat to Quins.
“It’s a great opportunity for Quins to draw the line in the sand with the Prem result… but if the Stormers win on Sunday, which they are more than capable of doing, I think that they’re going to be in a great spot. Last 16 and the quarterfinal going over to Cape Town against that team will be very, very difficult to overcome,” Youngs concluded.
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