Quins Blog: Players down, but season is far from out (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Quins Blog: Players down, but season is far from out

3:03pm Tuesday 24th January 2012 in Harlequins

If Quins finish without silverware then this season will be remembered for two games, writes Ben Wallace.

The first will be the historic win in the south of France against Toulouse, while the second will be Friday night’s 8-9 defeat at Connacht.

While few could have predicted that Gloucester would beat the visiting Toulouse, Quins knew well in advance of Friday’s encounter in Galway that they must at least win to stay in contention for a quarter final Heineken Cup place.

In fact, with the Cherry and Whites recording their own memorable victory against the French giants, Quins ought to have found themselves winners of Pool Six.

The game was plagued by the terrible west of Ireland weather, but there should be no excuses. Quins arrived with the intention to play a forward-dominated game, driving up the middle in a forward arm wrestle that Connacht lapped up.

Despite the weather, there was no attempt to move the ball wide where Quins’ talented backs have been so successful this season in creating space and tries.

Instead the predictable battering ram of the front eight offered little genuine threat to the try line.

Much of the credit must go to Connacht’s outstanding defence, it was Harlequins’ game to lose, and that is exactly what they did.

Mike Brown’s tweet on Saturday morning said it all: ‘only [our]selves to blame’. Connacht had lost their previous 14 games in all competitions.

But thankfully for Quins it is not all doom and gloom.

This isn’t the end of the season and there are no less than three pieces of silverware still up for grabs.

The most exciting news might be Quins’ opportunity to defend the Almin Cup.

Having missed a probable trip to Munster in the Heineken Cup quarter finals, Quins now find themselves heading to the sunny climes of Toulon for another big South of France matchup.

By April, the warm weather and firm ground mean that in France - unlike Ireland - Quins will have the conditions to play an offloading game with pace.

It is here they are most comfortable and most able.

Win at Toulon and Quins are facing the prospect of a home semi-final and a home final as the Amlin showpiece is set to be played at the Stoop in May.

The players may be down, but the season is far from out.