After a very long summer of negative press, Harlequins supporters were expecting a new start to a new season consigning the long drawn out sorry bloodgate saga to history as their team to take to the Twickenham pitch.  I signed off last week’s preview “Saturday September 5^th - the day Harlequins’ Rugby does the talking!” fully expecting a new start. Well that lasted for 40 seconds.  Only Robson can say what truly happened but it is likely that some sort of “sledging” went on, the red mist descended and BANG! Realising that  they were facing string opposition, Wasps  pre match team talk obviously paid dividends,  and maybe a lot sooner than planned and whilst I m not agreeing with the actions the player took , it was a stupid foolish thing to do, he was obviously provoked, and this appears to have been taken into account with the six week ban. Maybe the in depth RFU review also needs to look at this side of the game, where on the field comments to provoke your opponent to pick up a red card is just another form of cheating.  Disappointment and frustration were the words of the day for Quins fans.  Fourteen men against fifteen men for 80 minutes was always going to be an up-hill struggle but these were the tactics engineered and employed by Wasps  in order to get their win. Despite some superb play by Quins with two well taken tries by Monye and Camacho with a repeat of the try he scored against Pirates the previous week. One could are argue that Varndell’s try was a double movement, and the fact that the refereeing decisions were weighted to facilitate a home win. The penalty try being particularly controversial.  That was when I left, furious with the events of the afternoon, and that awful Saracens “gay anthem” ringing in my ears, and the knowledge of reading yet more negative press over the breakfast table the following morning. If we had kept fifteen men for the whole game Quins would have won that match no question

The match this week has to be viewed as the Start of Harlequins Season – Take 2.

Like last week, we once again we have the prospect of a fine match, and need to capitalise on our home advantage. Again like last week I m quietly confident of a win. It is over six years since Quins last beat Leicester at home although they came very close last season when the two sides met at The Big Match at Twickenham.  Leicester themselves had a surprising loss last weekend away at Sale and they will be fighting to get back to winning ways. After the desperate disappointment of last Saturday the “A” team, watched by the first XV, won handsomely on Monday night showing just what Quins can do if they are focused and concentrate on the job in hand.

With a temporary, reduced ground capacity the percentage of home fans will be increased and their vocal support will be needed as the 16^th man.  Despite losing Robson, as long as we can maintain a full compliment on the pitch we have the team to beat Leicester. It is likely the Stevenson will be drafted in to the squad to fill the gap and show his mettle (I referred to him as Armstrong last week; in error- I ve read too many moon landing books over the summer.)

Leicester face their second consecutive away game whilst the rebuilding of Welford Road continues, and have injury worries with reports that Hipkiss is out for Saturday after damaging his knee in training earlier  this week.   Matt Smith will probably move inside to partner Anthony Allen at centre.

It has also been reported that Aaron Mauger has a chance of starting, after his four months of back problems appear to be over. Injury also rules out  backs Toby Flood, Sam Vesty and winger Alesana Tuilagi from this match, so we could expect a return to The Stoop for Jeremy Staunton .  With Tigers running out of fit backs, head coach Richard Cockerill wants to sign the two full-backs he has had on trial, France's Nicolas Jeanjean, and Argentina's Lucas Gonzales Amorosino. However there are not the funds available, with the building of the new stand. Scrum Half HarryEllis and flanker Tom Croft are expected to start. Watching the Sale v Leicester match last week it was clear the Leicester scrum struggled against Sale and Harlequins continue to have an excellent, if still under estimated pack, despite the loss of Mike Ross. I am fairly confident that we have a very good opportunity of seeing a home win on Saturday afternoon. I think we can also invoke the law of averages to help us win. No doubt it will be a hard fought  match and there is never a week Leicester side, but Quins still have to prove themselves this season and Saturday will be the day that it all starts to come together.

Come On You Quins!

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