Dombrandt glad to see Smith return
PREVIEW…
Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, La Defense Arena
ALEX Dombrandt expects the return of Marcus Smith to help lift Harlequins out of their mid-season slumber.
Quins go into today's Champions Cup clash against Racing 92 at La Defense Arena in Paris on a run of four defeats in their last five matches.
The victory came against Racing 92 at the Stoop last month and Quins have been boosted by the return of outside-half Smith who has not played for the club since October 23 after suffering an ankle injury at the end of England's autumn international campaign. “Marcus is massively important to us and we have missed what he brings,” said No.8 Dombrandt, who will captain Quins on an afternoon when victory would mean a big step towards the knock-out stage.
“It is hugely exciting for us that he is back. The results in the last few weeks have been disappointing. The weather has not suited our style of play but to lift trophies you need to find a way of winning games. We have looked hard at a few areas, improving our kicking game and becoming more potent in attack.”
Quins' attack will be lifted not just by the return of Smith, who will
TEAMS
RACING 92: Gelant, Taofifenua, Saili, Fickou (c), Imhoff, Russell, Le Garrec; Gogichashvili, Chat, Gomes Sa, Woki, Palu, Diallo, Chouzenoux, Baudonne Replacements: Narisia, Ben Arous, Nyakane, Hemery, Kamikamica, Gibert, Klemenczak, Spring HARLEQUINS: David, Murley, Marchant, Esterhuizen, Morris, Smith, Care; Marler, Walker, Louw, Lewies, Herbst, Wallace, Evans, Dombrandt (c) Replacements: Head, Els, Kerrod, Hammond, Lawday, Gjaltema, Beard, Edwards
REFEREE: Andrew Brace be up against the Scotland outside-half Finn Russell, who is joining Harlequins next season, but by the indoor stadium that houses Racing.
“We are all looking forward to having a roof over our heads,” said Dombrandt. “It will be a massive test for us because they have some special players and also like to throw the ball around.
“The last few weeks have been tough, but we have not been a million miles away. We can park the Premiership for a couple of weeks and focus on a competition in which we are in a reasonably good place.”
Quins are third in the Premiership table despite their run of defeats, but only leaders Saracens and second placed Sale have won more matches than they have lost in the league this season.
“We are fortunate to be third,” said Dombrandt. “We are realistically two defeats away from dropping to ninth which shows how close it is. We are not in a bad position but know we have to keep improving our performances. It is hard when you have key players out which is why it is good they will be back in the coming weeks.”
Dombrandt missed out on the autumn internationals after suffering a hamstring injury on the second weekend of the season but he has started the last eight matches in the league and Champions Cup and is in contention for a place in the England squad which will be announced tomorrow, new head coach Steve Borthwick's first.
“I have been focusing on putting a run of games together and elsewhere it will be what it will be,” he said. “We we in briefly as a squad earlier this month and I had a brief chat with Steve. I know where I stand.
“When a new coach comes in, it is important to sit down, talk about where your game is at and what you need to improve, but also what they think is going well.”
One member of the Quins set-up who will not be fretting about getting a call tomorrow is attack coach Nick Evans who last week became part of Borthwick's management team for the Six Nations. He will join up with England after his club's final Champions Cup group match next weekend.
First comes the matter of getting Quins into the last 16 again. “The last three performances and results have been disappointing,” Evans said. “We are focusing on them to help us move forward.Having players back (Joe Marler, Will Evans and Stephan Lewies also return) brings a buzz and I think the change in competition has come at the right time for us. We will be playing in fantastic stadium in a dry atmosphere.
“We want to get back to who we are and what we are about. It is an important game because a result sets us up for the final week. We know the quality they have and it will be a formidable test that will come down to fine margins.”
