Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'About Christmas time I sent out a survey to about 20 people at the club'

By PA
Harlequins v Castres Olympique – Heineken Champions Cup – Pool B – Twickenham Stoop

Tabai Matson says Harlequins have plenty of motivation to go deep in the Heineken Champions Cup this season and revealed his fascination at results of a survey he sent to members of the squad in December.

ADVERTISEMENT

Four consecutive victories have put the Gallagher Premiership winners in with a strong chance of securing a top-four finish domestically but they turn their attention to a different target for the next fortnight.

Harlequins have traditionally struggled in Europe’s elite competition, failing to make the knockout stages in nine years before this season and never going beyond the quarter-finals.

Matson, who joined as head coach last summer, will take his side to Top14 leaders Montpellier on Sunday for the first of a two-legged tie to decide who reaches the last eight with the London outfit aiming to get to that stage for only the fifth time.

“The Premiership win last year has changed the expectations of the squad, they feel they can be more consistent and can challenge at a higher level,” he said.

“Going through to the quarter-finals of Europe was definitely something they wanted to do, so it is an interesting one.

“About Christmas time I sent out a survey to about 20 people at the club, all different players. I asked, ‘Would you rather win back-to-back Premiership titles or win in Europe, you can only choose one?’ and it was really fascinating the difference in individual opinions around that in showing our different desires.

ADVERTISEMENT

“One of the key things around leading a team is what does everybody want to do, not what do I want to do. It was really interesting and I was surprised by the variation and what I thought all of the club would want to do.”

While Matson would not divulge the results, there appears little chance of Harlequins resting players at all across this round of 16 tie even with April lined up to be a gruelling month.

After taking on Montpellier, described as a team who “kicks the hell out of the ball”, twice, the English champions face current leaders Leicester and play-off chasing Northampton in consecutive weeks before the calendar rolls into May.

Matson added: “Europe is special isn’t it and one for the club because we haven’t been here very often.

ADVERTISEMENT

“To be playing Montpellier, the current best team in France is a fantastic challenge and to be away from home in the first leg is going to be really interesting.

“We spoke about it last week how we would shut the door on the Premiership for now and really focus on Europe so it is here and we’re off to play one of the best teams in Europe.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 1 hour ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss
Search