A win is essential to ensure that they do not spend the rest of the season in catch up mode, as second from bottom in the table take on the second placed team in the Premiership.

As long standing Harlequins supporters we should perhaps be used to this by now, last season’s success rough a lot, is looking to be performance blip. The squad had been through a lot, and essentially is the same squad, as last year but reinforced, and injuries and a ban from the opening game of the season, has reduced the potency, as we saw against Leicester last weekend.  They just seemed to spend the whole game defending, with a poor game plan in the last quarter of the match of kicking the ball up field to Geordan Murphy to allow Leicester to run back in attack, rather than hold on  to the ball and force an attack themselves. A second successive loss will have sapped the resolve of some of the crowd. A failure to execute the basics was the cause of last week’s defeat. A least Quins clung on to a bonus point, when perhaps two points from a draw would have been a more, and Quins were left to rue what might have been, had George Lowe not have knocked on, and had Strettle not been impeded by Crane, the result would have been different. Leicester were there to be beaten, but Quins did not have the fire in their belly to execute it. It was ironic that Quins were undone by the boot of Jeremy Staunton, after indiscipline gave away too many penalties.  Leicester never looked like scoring any tries, but the measure of Quins response showed just how far they have fallen since the heady days of spring. When Julian White came on for the last quarter it rapidly became clear that Harlequins were unlikely to win.

Speaking in the Richmond and Twickenham Times, assistant coach Colin Osborne insisted that Harlequins can get their season back in track, against an unbeaten Saracens, “Their confidence will have been boosted by the fact that they have two wins under their belt.” These wins will be all the more special for them as Saracens work through their identity crisis following the South African take over. Two home wins with neither game being played in Watford, saw success against London Irish at Twickenham and Northampton at Wembley. The Saracens marketing budget has received significant finding this year as they try to tap into new markets, to try and increase the number of spectators through the turnstiles.  Saracens were watched by a crowd of 45,000 at Wembley, as opposed to 8,500 at Vicarage Road, but at what cost to the club. The problem is now how many from that crowd will trek to Watford to watch their next home game, and indeed what they will find when they get there. Saracens have also “come out” with a team anthem, for their supporters to rally round, an annoying tune that seems to have galvanized their team. Fortunately, as this is an away game we will not be tortured by it as we all were at the LDH.  Saracens have assembled a new squad over the summer and Venter has worked hard to get them to pull together as team. Their first half performance against London Irish was impressive as they scored two good, opportunist tries that stung the Irish, however rather than capitalise on this, they sat back in the second half to defend their lead and almost lost the game. Their win against Northampton was nearly eclipsed at the end of the match but the television match official, saved the day for the home side. Despite the lineup, Saracens are vulnerable and Quins will need to seek out this weakness on Saturday. Saracens have had two wins, but the score-lines suggest that they were not convincing wins, Quins v Saracens games always have that extra edge and we have seen some classic games in recent years. There is no reason not to suggest that we will see more of the same this week, with Saracens looking to maintain their momentum as Harlequins dig deep to kick start their season back into life, and climb out from the bottom of the pile.

Colin Osborne has told Harlequins fans they will need to play a major part in Quins recovery. “I know we can count on our fans to do their part again on Saturday and we will certainly be going all out for a win”. Quins fans will respond, as they have always done, but that may take a more time this season as they continue to lick their wounds from the long hard summer. Quins supporters will need to take their lead from the players on the pitch with increased focus, getting the basics right, and to concentrate on the job in hand, and not give away stupid penalties.  As we saw last year it is success that breeds success, team and supporters need to feed off each other.

I expect to see a hard and physical match; Quins have the home advantage and a near capacity crowd to help them. They need to ensure that this is used to it full potential. I m expecting a close match score wise with the losing side coming away with a bonus point. Quins have the resources to pull out a win; they just need to be all working together. The signs are there he team just need to pull a little closer together and away Quins will go.

Come On You Quins!

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