Furbank and Smith fired up for derby day

■By GARY FITZGERALD

PREVIEW…

Harlequins v Saracens

Today. Kick-off 3pm, The Stoop

GEORGE Furbank is adamant his special on-field relationship with Marcus Smith can help plant the roots for a Harlequins revival and future success.

Just as the pair have built a crucial understanding for their country, there have already been clear signs that the Fur-bank-Smith combo can hit the right notes at The Stoop.

Both certainly looked on the same page in the close loss at Sale and then the thumping win over Vannes last weekend. And, with Quins supporters praying they can provide the ammunition to shoot down arch London rivals Saracens today, Furbank enthuses: “Marcus is an incredible player and has started another season on fire. I’m just trying to make his life a bit easier so he can go and do the things he does. Also I hope he can bring the best out of me too.

“It’s felt pretty seamless so far.

Obviously, I know what he’s like from England camps. He’s a massive threat with ball in hand and has a great passing game too. It’s just trying to understand what he’s going to do in certain moments and then making my move off that.”

Furbank enjoyed plenty of passion-filled local dustups with Leicester during his Northampton days so he is relishing his first once in the capital today. With Quins desperate to kick start their Premiership season after three losses – and Sarries keen to bounce back from their European defeat at Connacht – it promises to be a real feisty confrontation.

Furbank, 30, insists: “I love these derby days. I experienced a few East Midlands derbies and they unbelievable days.

I’m expecting a similar boisterous atmosphere with the fans getting behind us and, hopefully, we can give them something to shout about. “Everyone’s game goes to the next level. It means almost that bit extra more. It definitely means more to the fans.

You could probably go through a whole year and lose every game but if you win a couple of derbies the fans are happy!”

Quins have England prop Fin Baxter available again after a 10-month injury lay-off. He will be hoping to impress and prove his fitness for the upcoming Nations Championship ip matches. Fur-bank insists: “We’re excited about having Fin back. He’s a world class player who has been chomping at the bit to get back for a while. So I’m sure we will see the best of him now. We need all our big players fit and playing.

“We need to keep believing and we’re confident the wins will come if we perform consistently. We have such a talented group of back lads here with some pretty electric wings.”

Smith, 27, is set to make his 200th Quins appearance since his debut in September 2017, aged 18. He has has gone on to score 1,809 points, including 49 tries and head coach Jason Gilmore said: “He’s one of the best in the world in that position, and we’re lucky to have him at our club.

“It’d be great for the boys to be able to put in a good shift for him, so he can get a good result on the weekend.”

Smith missed the start of the 2026-27 season with a finger injury but scored twice on his return to action, in the 28-24 defeat by Sale earlier this month. He also crossed twice in the 57-19 win over Vannes last weekend.

And Gilmore admits academy graduate Smith is “desperate for the club to do well”.

“He’s understand-ing where we’re at,” Gilmore said. “He can see the signs that are coming through, particularly with our attack shape.

“I don’t think we’re far away from playing our best rugby, which is exciting for us as a club, and Smithy’s crucial to that.”

Baxter’s return comes after two operations on a foot injury. The 24-year-old has not played since the Champions Cup win over Bayonne last December.

“He’s such an important player for us,” Gilmore added. “He gives us stability at the scrum, he’s a big body in the line-out maul for us as well.

“He’s just got such a good work-rate around the field. We’ve certainly missed him.”

Ace: Quins full-back George Furbank

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