Finishing the season without a Champions Cup place and without any form of silverware wasn’t part of Harlequins’ 2015-16 plan. It stung the club that they couldn’t provide a fitting finale for Conor O’Shea and completed another frustrating season in which they didn’t achieve the heights that they believe that they should. However that’s done and dusted now and there’s no point in dwelling on their disappointment. Instead it’s time to look forwards with a new coaching set up and focus on ensuring that their 150th season is one to remember.
Of course we’re all eager to see how Harlequins’ coaching structure develops and the nuances that each individual brings. Of the appointments I believe that Graham Rowntree’s will be the most influential. England’s former forwards’ coach has so much experience to draw upon and I believe that he’ll help Harlequins find that physical edge that he always demands from his charges. As a full squad of forwards, not just those that are first choice, Harlequins need to toughen up a bit and become a spot more streetwise and their new coach is the perfect man to help achieve that. That in turn should provide the platform required for their evasive and sparky backs to work from. There’s absolutely no hiding away from the fact that last season the extended period without their International players really hurt Harlequins. The International windows saw them shorn of key leaders in every single part of the field from full back to the front row and it derailed them. The question that still remains is how are they going to better handle these periods this season? Grant it the presence of the Anglo-Welsh Cup will ease the issue slightly but they’ll still need to manage without that experience at key times. In short Harlequins’ squad members have to step up and take charge. Last season the foundations were often in place during these matches but the side couldn’t navigate successfully through to the final whistle. That simply cannot happen again or they’ll find themselves in a similar position in the table to the 2015-16 season.
All of that said, like every single one of our Aviva Premiership clubs, Harlequins’ sole focus is on Round 1 and the short walk over the road to face Bristol. It’s a match with plenty riding on it for both sides; Bristol want to showcase that they belong in the Premiership from day one while Harlequins want their years of experience and Internationals to take charge. On paper Harlequins should start with a victory and nothing less will be expected by John Kingston but as Worcester showed last season anything can happen on the opening day.
After a number of seasons without silverware, or being in the play-off mix, there’s a great desire and hunger to deliver at Harlequins. The fact it’s their 150th season adds a greater spotlight on the club and now is the time for them to showcase their worth as a squad and embrace the fresh ideas and purpose that their new coaching structure should deliver.
Opening Six Matches: Bristol (LDH), Sale (A), Exeter (A), Saracens (H), Wasps (A), Northampton Saints (H).
Opening Six Matches: Bristol (LDH), Sale (A), Exeter (A), Saracens (H), Wasps (A), Northampton Saints (H).
Key Focus: Full squad development and managing the International windows well in order to put themselves in a favourable position come the latter rounds.
In: Cameron Holenstein (Pau) Aaron Morris (Saracens), Charlie Mulchrone (Worcester Warriors), Mark Reddish (Highlanders) Ruaridh Jackson (Wasps), George Naoupu (Connacht), Gabriel Ibitoye, Dino Lamb-Cona, Jonas Mikalcius, Niall Saunders
Out: Beau Robinson (unattached), Ben Botica (Montpellier), Kieran Treadwell (Ulster), Luke White (unattached), Mofe Wilkey (unattached), Sam Egerton (Newcastle Falcons), Tito Tebaldi (Treviso), Nick Easter (Harlequins’ Defence Coach)
