Both sides were depleted by international calls and injuries. Quins had six on international duty and two other internationals on the sick and injured list while Wasps had nine players away in similar circumstances.  That does not explain why for much of the time the visitors resembled a band of headless chickens throwing themselves against the wire fence since their match-day squad still contained six capped internationals and other quality players. But they could not match the skill, passion, wit and intelligent play of this Harlequins team.

The Quins front five dominated the set-piece throughout the match while the back row of Robshaw, Skinner and Guest were magnificent at the breakdown and in the loose, while in the backs the combination of Malone at fly-half and Nick Evans at full-back gave the attack direction and penetration.

It took barely thirty seconds for Quins to open the scoring. Lewsey had received the kick off and his attempted clearance kick found Malone on the halfway line.  The fly-half calmly struck an excellent drop goal and the writing was on the wall for Wasps from that point.  A couple of minutes later a superb penalty kick from Malone found touch deep in the corner fully 60 metres downfield.  A good lineout and forward pressure resulted in Tom Guest scoring by the posts.  Nick Evans added the conversion and Quins led 10 – 0 after barely five minutes.

Quins were immediately on the attack again and Wasps were caught offside on their twenty-two allowing Evans to increase the lead.  The visitors made a determined effort to respond and a quickly taken penalty kick cross field almost caught Quins napping but was cleared into touch only 10 metres from their line.  Wasps picking and driving from the lineout caught Quins offside in front of the posts and allowed Staunton to slot a simple penalty goal.  But the pattern was repeated at the other end. It was Evans that took the next opportunity and the points to increase Quins’ lead to 16 – 3 as the first quarter ended.

Wasps were frequently the victims of their own sloppy play.  Forward passes and other unforced errors, loss of footing and lack of discipline at the breakdown added to missed tackles compounded the situation.  Meanwhile Harlequins played with speed of purpose and thought, the ball moving through the hands with fine handling skill.  From this passage of play came a break by Tosh Masson and with Nick Evans coming into the line and receiving the pass. He used devastating acceleration and serious pace to leave the defence following vainly in his slipstream.  The try was not converted.

But Quins were not yet done and another two penalties from Nick Evans took them in for the interval leading 27 – 3 and the game all but done and dusted.

The second half saw Wasps attempt to salvage the situation. They did play with more purpose. Unforced errors, however, continued to spoil their efforts.  Quins pace of defence as well as of attack offered the visitors little chance.  More than once, Van Gisbergen, having fielded the high ball and looking to run, stopped like a rabbit in the headlights as three Quins tacklers faced him.  When he did run it was straight into their grasp.

On 60 minutes, a grubber kick through from Malone took an unexpected bounce and struck Van Gisbergen on the forehead.  Masson hacked on the rebound and Chris Robshaw won the race for the touchdown.  Evans missed the conversion attempt.  Quins continued to play at pace with invention and skill while Wasps continued to try to produce some semblance of their usual level of play. 

With about ten minutes remaining a fine breakaway try from substitute scrum half Joe Simpson that Dave Walder converted, brought some consolation but little joy to a team that had not looked like winning after the first minute of the game.

This was a major performance by Harlequins which will take them to Welford Road next week believing that they can pull the Tigers’ fangs in their own lair, especially with memories of their last visit to encourage them.   

At the press conference, dominated by questions about the effect of missing international players, Dean Richards was philosophical.  He had six players on international duty.  Two more featured in the list of a half dozen sick and injured and had to make another change two hours before kick-off when winger Seb Stegmann dropped out with flu.

The reshuffle in the backs resulted in Nick Evans switching to full-back from fly-half for his injury-delayed home debut. His contribution had been immense. But Richards said: "It wasn't just about him and his finishing. It was the quality of the rugby that led up to it.  Our scrum dominated their scrum, which must have been disappointing for them. The brand of rugby we are playing at the moment gives you an idea of the feeling in the camp."

Richards said of the he absence of his players: "You always miss them but it's an opportunity for other people which some of these young guys have taken."

Harlequins: N Evans; T Williams, T Masson, JTurner-Hall (rep: D-W Barry, 65), C Amesbury; CMalone, A Gomarsall (rep: J Polu, 50); C Jones, GBotha, M Ross (rep: M Lambert, 72), O Kohn, JEvans (rep: G Robson, 65), C Robshaw, W Skinner (rep: C Booker, 80), T Guest (rep: N McMillan, 68).

London Wasps: M van Gisbergen; M Lawlor, JLewsey (rep: R Hoadley, 67-73), L Mitchell, TVoyce; J Staunton (rep: D Walder, 55), M Robinson (rep: J Simpson, 50; rep: R Hoadley, 73); T Payne, RWebber (rep: R Ibañez, 55), P Barnard, GSkivington, R Birkett, J Hart (rep: D Leo, 60), SBetsen (rep: H Ellis 55), J Worsley.

Referee: T Wigglesworth.

Attendance: 12,638.

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