Preview – Harlequins 2021/22
“Staying true to our identity - the Quins DNA is critical to how we will reach our goals.”
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Season Expectation: 6th
Key Signings: Huw Jones, Tommaso Allan, Nick David
Harlequins’ heroic late run of form led to one of the most unlikely and highly appreciated Premiership championships in recent memory. Their enterprising ‘Jouè’ style spearheaded by the young dynamic duo of Smith and Dombrandt proved more than just entertaining. Yet last season was not perfect from start to finish. Ultimately it was the soul searching after Paul Gustard’s exit that unleashed the free-flowing attacking style that led Quins to one of the most exciting Premiership victories of all time. To go back-to-back, Quins will have to show that the galvanised mentality they showed throughout their playoff run was not just a matter of form and that they have replaced close losses with mature closeouts. To do this they’ll need to keep their attacking identity, but in a long and hard season where they are bound to lose some of their young stars to international duty it’ll be their defence that needs to make the biggest step for them to stay on top.
In the offseason, Quins have brought in Tabai Matson the former Bath and Crusaders coach, who should fit seamlessly in the head-coach-less staff that led the west London club to the Championship. Testament to that is him coming in ‘alone’ rather than bringing along a number of ‘his’ coaching staff. Matson states that he is ‘‘not coming [in] to reinvent the wheel’’ and he ‘‘believe[s] that staying true to our identity - the Quins DNA is critical to how we will reach our goals.’’ As former attack coach for Scott Robertson’s Crusaders, there is no doubt he will focus on preserving the strong culture already present at Quins and make a real weapon out of a tight-knit group.
In the offseason, Quin’s have both upgraded and rejuvenated their squad. They welcome the additions of promising young Hooker Jack Walker (Bath) and Nick David (Worcester) to replace the departing Scott Baldwin (Worcester), Nathan Earle (Newcastle) and club stalwart Mike Brown (Newcastle). Walker is a nice ball-playing hooker that can link forward pods with the looping backs, a real feature of Quins’ expansive game whilst David provides more silky running. They have also bolstered their backline depth with Scotland and Italy internationals Huw Jones and Tommaso Allan replacing the departing Brett Herron (Biarritz), James Lang (Edinburgh) and Ben Tapuai (Cell C Sharks). Jones runs excellent lines that will diversify Quins’ already potent backline and Tommaso Allan will likely run the attack in the absence of Smith and is a smooth operator in his own right with a decent running game that will benefit from the extra threats around him.
This season expect Quins to exploit and benefit from the introduction of the 50/22 law. Care, Smith and now Allan all operate a polished kicking game that has complimented their attacking rugby with great positional play. They will, no doubt, take advantage of the 50/22 law both for attacking set-piece ball but also the threat of a 50/22 will provide lots of added space out wide for Harlequins to punish pinned back wingers.
Quins’ front-office has done a great job of holding the ship steady and doubling down on players that fit their playing style to go back-to-back. The addition of Tabai Matson will not change the playing style but he will bring his Crusaders experience to help build the culture of dynasty winning teams. If Harlequins are truly galvanised from their experience last year and can close out games like they did at the back end of last season rather than in 2020, then they really do have the quality to be dangerous again. Yet, there are concerns that last year’s run of form will be tough to repeat. No doubt the Premiership has a number of hungry teams that have invested to win and if Quins want to stay in the top four it will be their ability to close out tight games, win in the absence of their young stars who will be unavailable for different portions of the season and defend better than last years 4th worst defence.