The 32-year-old joined Quins at the start of this season after a stint playing for Japanese side Toyota Verblitz which had come following his long-time club Wasps going into liquidation in October 2022.
He has added a level of ballast to the team up front that has been crucial in the general improvement of the club's work at the breakdown, their defence, the operation of their lineout and their ability to close out tight wins, with four of Harlequins' six wins so far this season coming by eight points or fewer.
But with Quins having lost four games in December and January of last season by those same tight margins, Launchbury is focused on helping right those wrongs to avoid the period having the same damaging effect.
"I feel we're in a really strong place," he said, speaking on The Rugby Paper Podcast. "We know how quickly these games come over Christmas. I wasn't here last year but the boys have talked about this being the period we got wrong last year.
"Quins lost a few games around this Christmas period and because they're so condensed, bouncing between Europe and the Premiership, if you don't get it right it can be very tough in such a short season.
Denne historien er fra December 24, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 24, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Brough is so Hungary to build on early adventure
BIRMINGHAM Moseley winger Daniel Brough says his love for rugby was solidified when he spent two years playing for Portuguese team Lousa alongside Chile international Pablo Casas in what he describes as a \"boy to a man experience\".
There's more to come from this England pack
ENGLAND'S win over France last weekend was a huge confidence booster ahead of Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland because of the way the team gave themselves an opportunity to win - and the players seized the moment.
Ellis was a rock that we'll never forget, vows Old Reds' Dan
NATIONAL League rugby was rocked last week when Old Redcliffians prop Ellis Joseph passed away aged 27, and captain Dan Fry says the club's focus is to honour his legacy.
Coach hails his King for the day
REDRUTH had to dig deep to see off a physical Cinderford side who deservedly took a losing bonus point back home.
Flying Falcons hoping to make it six out of six
SON of a pig farmer, Freddie Lockwood has been a headline-hogging act for Newcastle this season.
England need to be more consistent
THOSE who believe England have turned a big corner following their last-minute fireworks against France are optimists, simply because their record so far under head coach Steve Borthwick suggests there will be more boom-and-bust.
Too tall to be a pilot, I found lift-off in rugby
Jon Newcombe talks to Josh McNally who says that, without the RAF, he would not have achieved anything in the game
Bears on top but Bath go through
BRISTOL looked the stronger side on paper and so it eventually the bonus-point win still wasn't enough for them to secure a place in the knockout stages proved but Bears were left to rue a 78-19 hammering at the Rec and a surprise defeat at Bedford which left them with too much to do on the final weekend of the competition.
Great that we found a way to win, says Sleightholme
OLLIE Sleightholme insists England have finally broken their glass ceiling but urged them to take a leaf out his club Northampton's book.
Diamond's war chest for relegation play-off
STEVE Diamond has built up a war chest as insurance should Newcastle find themselves in an end-ofseason relegation play-off with key players injured, but he does not anticipate dipping into it.
