Quins have been on the receiving end of a few hidings this season, but it hasn’t stopped them going on a recent run of games in which they’ve played great attacking rugby. It has put them in the mix for a European Cup final, and in contention for a Premiership play-off, which is exactly where you want to be at this stage of the season.
Playing Toulouse on their own patch is like climbing a very steep mountain – but there have been signs this season that it is scalable. Bath went there in the pool stages of this season’s competition and were in close contention for 50 minutes. Exeter also managed to cause Toulouse trouble for the first half-hour of their away quarter-final before being overwhelmed.
Harlequins also have the advantage of having played the French aristocrats at The Stoop in the pool stages. It may not have seemed like an advantage at the time, because they were taken to the cleaners, eventually losing 47-19 and conceding seven tries, but it will have given them a valuable insight into where Toulouse are strongest, and where to plug the gaps.
When you play a side as good as Toulouse you must have belief that the confidence and understanding that took you to a semi-final – and your winning record over the past month – can see you win again.
Toulouse may field a side which has unrivalled depth and talent, with an all-international pack, but they have lost games this season, and that is why the Harlequins approach has to be: “Bring it on!”
The heat on Quins will be turned up high, without a doubt, because Toulouse scrum-half Antoine Dupont is the best player in the world.
Denne historien er fra May 05, 2024-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 May 05, 2024-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
Edwards gives Gatland a little to think about
A TERRIFIC effort from Ospreys should have seen victory and it was rough justice that high-flying Cardiff escaped with an undeserved draw.
Cowan-Dickie: I'm back and buzzing
LUKE Cowan-Dickie's journey back to the pinnacle of rugby is nothing short of extraordinary.
Clow keeps Rams in touch at the top
RAMS inward approach is paying dividends with the club involved in another title race thanks in part to free scoring flyer Zachary Clow.
Powell powers over to take Quins home
PLAYMAKER Kayleigh Powell powered past four defenders to score the eighth Harlequins try and narrowly edge out a spirited Trailfinders side to secure a late comeback win in a 15-try derby thriller.
Hathaway can follow Zam Skivington
GEORGE Skivington has backed Josh Hathaway to continue to go from strength to strength as the young winger attempts to follow in the slipstream of Louis Rees-Zammit and be a big hit for club and country.
Hybrid Hash will tie Borthwick in knots
THE description 'Hybrid Central Contracts' does not inspire confidence. Hybrid usually means a bit of this, and a bit of that — and 'Hybrid Hash' would be a more apt term for the RFU contracts given to 17 England players just before the autumn series slump.
Quins leave it late to power past Falcons
MARCUS Smith showed his class on Friday night, being an imperious creator and finisher as Harlequins romped to an emphatic five-try victory on Tyneside.
We need to see a complete shake-up
A NEW year and change is on the way across many aspects of the game, not least with the possibility of an SGM creating a complete change at the RFU.
Cool McBryde steals it for RGC
BILLY McBryde held his nerve to land a last kick of the match conversion to snatch a stunning 4139 win for RGC over leaders Ebbw Vale at Parc Eirias.
Century of highs for La Rochelle
AN IMPRESSIVE milestone at Stade Marcel Deflandre was reached last night, where La Rochelle hosted their 100th sell-out match in a row – either side of the period of pandemic restrictions – a run stretching back to January 2, 2016.
