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'We all knew ourselves' - Saili explains one of the main contributing factors behind Harlequins' apalling season

By Nick Heath

Francis Saili only made five appearances for Harlequins last season but on his return from a shoulder operation, he’s aiming to be ready to hit the ground running into the new Gallagher Premiership season.

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After finishing a disappointing tenth, Saili reflected at this year’s fixtures launch that his Quins team mates were struggling to deliver their own game plan due to their fitness, telling RugbyPass, “That’s what we all knew ourselves. As the season went on we weren’t fit enough to play the style of footy that we wanted to play. Not only that, the Quins brand was throwing the ball around here and there, running from everywhere. I think we were disappointed in our own selves as we weren’t fit enough to play that sort of style.”

Quins parted ways with John Kingston and Graham Rowntree over the summer, with Alex Codling joining as forwards coach alongside former Saracens and England assistant coach Paul Gustard as the new Head of Rugby.

Saili told RugbyPass, “There’s a big emphasis on fitness, getting the boys to run around. He’s [Gustard] doing a good job with that. He wants to play a style that is high tempo. He wants to make sure we’re ready for the season ahead.”

Harlequins will not play in the traditional showpiece season opener at Twickenham due to the stadium undergoing refurbishment work. Their opening match will be at The Stoop against Sale Sharks.

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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