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'That was the speech': What Harlequins inspiringly said at half-time versus Bristol
Harlequins skipper Stephan Lewies has hailed veteran Danny Care for his influence in helping the rejuvenated Londoners to qualify for their first Gallagher Premiership final since they won their one and only English league title in 2012. The scrum-half was a youthful presence in the Quins line-up nine years ago when they ambushed Leicester at Twickenham and the now 34-year-old has been rolling back the years in recent months with a sumptuous run of form that even had him touted as an outside pick for the 2021 Lions.
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Harlequins looked to be serious trouble when head of rugby Paul Gustard exited the club in January but seasoned campaigners such as Care, Joe Marler and Mike Brown ensured they didn’t hit rock bottom. Instead, they embarked on an uplifting run of results during the spring and while the Newcastle-bound Brown has played his final game for the club due to suspension, the immense influence of Care and Marler was there for everyone to see during last Saturday’s incredible semi-final comeback win at Bristol.
It’s an old-stager impact that rookie skipper Lewies has now saluted ahead of this Saturday’s final versus defending champions Exeter. “The younger lads have been phenomenal and the older heads, Danny Care has been playing like he is 22 again.
“Marler, for a prop, was on the pitch for 94 minutes which is an absolute joke, but the big thing is the leadership group has been stepping up week in week out. They have been performing for us and that has been big,” said Lewies, who went on to explain that Care addressed the Harlequins squad some weeks ago about the 2012 title win while he was also a sounding board last year before the South African lock agreed to take over the club captaincy.
“Three weeks ago we had a chat around it. Danny stood in front of the team, told the team what it meant for him personally and then you have the likes of Nick Evans still here and all those guys, Jordan Turner-Hall. Every now and then they just drop in a little bit of what it meant for them back then and three weeks ago before the playoffs we had a big chat about it.”
Amid the mayhem of their incredible Ashton Gate semi-final comeback, one stat which highlighted Bristol's main weakness kept inspiring Danny Care and Harlequins 🙌#EXEvHAR #GallagherPremFinal
https://t.co/jei2d5uExA— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 23, 2021
Regarding the captaincy which he was given in 2020, Lewies added: “When they first asked me I was, ‘Are you guys sure?’ It was a bit of a shock. I was only here for one season when they approached me and it was a huge honour but I said I needed a day or two to think about it as regards to I am a firm believer you have to have the backing of the squad to achieve anything. I phoned Marler, Mike, Danny, a few of the boys and said, ‘Listen, I have been offered this but I won’t accept it if I don’t have your backing’. They all said they were behind me and the way they have been helping me this season has been brilliant.”
Harlequins trailed Bristol by 28 points at one stage during their semi-final but after Alex Dombrandt cut that gap by five points just before the break, Lewies soon realised that a successful comeback was on the cards. “It was quite calm. When the half-time whistle went we all jogged back in and I was running past a few of their boys and I could see their forwards were tired, breathing deeply. Really, when you are up by 28 points at half-time you are smiling and you have a buzz around you, you’re not generally tired.
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“We went into the huddle, Marler spoke really well to the boys, the coaches stayed out for a little bit. I spoke and just asked the boys to believe. We said normally you get guys who are this far back saying they believe but they don’t really believe but we just said we really need everyone to believe. If everyone believes we stand a chance and then to score first after half-time. That was the speech. The coaches came in and gave us some technical stuff to work on and the rest is history.”
"I try and keep God on my side so he looks after me on the field"
– Premiership player of the year nominee Marcus Smith talks about his faith, his Asian roots, his rejuvenated form and his enduring love for @Harlequins#BRIvHAR https://t.co/zGVufoSIVu
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 17, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
You doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
5 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
5 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
5 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
5 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
5 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to comments