The 'little pebble under your beach mat' driving on Harlequins
New Harlequins head coach Tabai Matson has reported that last December’s wounding European defeat at Munster was still a hot topic months later at the Londoners’ pre-season for the 2021/22 campaign, leaving them determined to go out this winter and demonstrate their true ability in the Heineken Champions Cup.
It was twelve months ago when Harlequins came into the European tournament on the back of Gallagher Premiership wins at Northampton and Gloucester but they couldn’t keep up that away form when visiting Limerick, losing 21-7 and then going on to get hammered 49-7 at home to Racing the following week.
With the January pool matches cancelled, those losses left Harlequins eliminated as the eleventh-best side in the twelve-team Pool B while they also lost Paul Gustard as their boss later that month.
The upside was how they regrouped incredibly well with the staff they had remaining, going on to win the Premiership title in June in swashbuckling style, and now with Matson on board as the boss, Harlequins are hoping to rectify what unfolded in Europe last time out.
Home and away matches versus Castres and Cardiff away, kicking off in France this Sunday, and the ex-dual All Blacks/Fijian international player can’t wait to get started following a baptism at Harlequins where five of nine league games were won in recent months.
"They actually asked me that in my second interview"
– Tabai Matson was put on the spot by Harlequins in a five-round interview process, the London club wanting to know what he made of them when head coach at Bath#PremRugby #Harlequins #NEWvHARhttps://t.co/DaqgW2fSaB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 15, 2021
“When I was joining the club I actually didn’t venture too far back, but the Munster game has been spoken about in a very disappointing manner. They were really gutted for the team to lose so convincingly in Europe,” said Matson. “That is often a little pebble under your beach mat during the summer. This is a completely different year. The players have high expectations of what they are going to do and what they are going to achieve.
“It doesn’t stop you playing against a really good team and getting beaten convincingly. That is the nature of the Heineken Cup, isn’t it? The best teams in the northern hemisphere are here. We have to be at our absolute best to prepare the team as a coaching group because the styles are very different.”
Matson is well versed in the French mentality, having joined Brive in 1998 after they had been 1996/97 European champions, so he reckons he knows what Harlequins will face at Castres on Sunday. “Probably one of the things about playing a French club at home, having been there and played there, but also having played in those home games, this [Harlequins next Sunday] will be a massive target for them.
“They will know if they get their first win in Europe, not only does it make their players grow in stature but also the club and the supporters. It’s such an important fixture for them, you know. And for them, playing the current English champions, it’s going to be really important.
“They will know they have to be at their best, and they will be. They always bring it in Europe, so I’m really excited. Castres has got a strong history. I know you say they fight above their weight, but one of the things about the Heineken Cup is they are one-off fixtures.
“Do you get your prep right? Do you get your selection right? Do you get the tactics on the day right? If you don’t, a French club at home will make you look silly. So, it’s exciting playing in such an amazing away fixture, in Castres first.”
What is the Harlequins ambition for the year? “They should be excited because the players have higher expectations and when they put their goals together in the pre-season, they truly believed they can get through the second stage of Europe and one thing, probably on the back of last season’s semi-final and final and in the Premiership, is they know that in a one-off game Quins are dangerous.
“So they feel that they have just got to make sure we are adaptable enough to play well through the winter and then if we play a one-off game in Europe, they feel they can get it done. So that is all I’m saying. They don’t have any further aspirations about a semi or a final, but they know that, if they get to the second stage, watch out!”
Comments on RugbyPass
pure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
1 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to comments