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Danny Wilson hits back at selection critics following Harlequins' win

By PA
Harlequins' Jamie Benson leads the celebrations at the final whistle during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Saracens and Harlequins at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 22, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson revealed his team’s stunning 23-12 upset victory over Saracens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was forged out of mistakes made last season.

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Quins rested their England stars Marcus Smith, Fin Baxter and Chandler Cunningham-South following the Six Nations but still ambushed their London rivals in front of a 54,414 crowd.

Trailing 12-0 until the arrival of the final quarter, they hit back with tries from Ben Waghorn and Will Porter, while rookie replacement fly-half Jamie Benson landed three nerveless penalties.

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In contrast, Saracens fielded their England contingent apart from injured back row Ben Earl, yet were still upstaged on their annual headline event in north London.

“I’m really proud of this group considering a few people would have had something to say about not selecting our three internationals and giving them the week off,” Wilson said.

Attack

126
Passes
183
76
Ball Carries
141
193m
Post Contact Metres
336m
5
Line Breaks
3

“Last season we put too much pressure on our internationals to return. Think about what the Six Nations is for an international rugby player – physically, mentally and the big one we all forget is emotionally.

“They are huge games of rugby win or lose. I am lucky enough to have had an experience coaching international rugby and I came out of those tournaments ready for a rest.

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“So we felt give them a rest straight away regardless of who we are playing. I know it doesn’t work for everyone, but it worked for us.

“Our top players are amazing players, but there was also a tactical element because we wanted to play a slightly different way.

“We didn’t take too many risks, we went to an aerial kicking game. It’s not something we are going to do every week, but it was the right thing to do this weekend.

“It’s been 13 years since we beat Saracens away and we have done the double on them this season, which is massive.

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“Now we have to back it up. We have got Bath away and Leinster away. To come out of here with points is vital, but now let’s see what we can do.”

Maro Itoje Danny Wilson
Maro Itoje – PA

Saracens boss Mark McCall wants a reaction from his team as they enter a key part of the season, travelling to Leicester on Sunday before facing Toulon in the south of France in the Champions Cup six days later.

“It felt like we didn’t have any possession of the ball. After the first 15 or 20 minutes we spent the game in our half,” McCall said.

“We have some clear things that we need to get better at. There’s no point getting too emotional about it, we have to understand why we were poor.

“This is bit of a test for us as a group now. It doesn’t have to be the end, there are six games to go. It’s on all of us to work really hard at it next week.”

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MarieDanielson 2 hours ago
Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

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Mzilikazi 2 hours ago
Why the Brumbies are still the best team in Australia

The Curse of Mayo ! In 1951, the Gaelic football team from County Mayo won the coveted Sam Maguire Cup in the All Ireland final at Croke Park in Dublin. Returning hime to the western county in Connacht, in a open lorry, and in high spirits, they rolled into the little village of Foxford. Ireland was then a very different country, with ancient traditions and superstitions still strong, and the power of the priest supreme.


A funeral procession, headed by the local priest, was in progress to the chapel.The team should have fallen silent, got off the lorry, and paid their respects. They did not, carrying on through the village in full voice. I cold fury the local priest is said to have cried out “Damnation be upon every one of you ! As long as you all shall live, Mayo will never win another All Ireland “ And indeed in the 74 years since that day, Mayo have reached 11 finals, and lost every time ! The last man from the cursed team died in 1921, at 95 years of age, so Mayo may soon win again.


I wonder is Qld. also a cursed side ? I recall an article you wrote several years ago, Nick. George Smith had come to play for Qld. after retiring from International rugby, and fresh from a very successful stint at Wasps. Qld. we all thought, would reign supreme. They did not. Apart from the one good year under Brad Thorne, they do seem to me, with my Irish blood, and having lived in Africa where the curse is still alive and kicking, to be under a curse.

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