Harlequins eye back-to-back titles

Harlequins are determined to prove their first English Premiership triumph was no flash in the pan when they begin the defence of their title against Wasps at Twickenham on Saturday.

The match forms part of the 'London double header' that has become the customary launch for a Premiership season, with two more capital clubs - Saracens and London Irish - in action at Twickenham earlier Saturday.

This fixture will be the first match Quins, whose own Stoop ground is just a stone's throw from Twickenham, have played at 'headquarters' since defeating perennial title contenders Leicester 30-23 in last season's play-off final.

Quins, led by England captain Chris Robshaw, still have former All Blacks flyhalf Nick Evans on board and coach Conor O'Shea has challenged his side to match last term's achievement.

"It will be a nice piece of history for the club," he explained. "We said after the final whistle that good teams can win things, great teams kick on.

"We'll be introduced as Premiership champions but it won't make any difference to us, the way we go about things," former Ireland full-back O'Shea added. "We just want to bring our own intensity and our own style."

Leicester face an interesting dilemma at fly-half where the English duo of Toby Flood, a seasoned international, and rising star George Ford are vying for the No 10 shirt.

Tigers coach Richard Cockerill preferred to start Flood last term but Ford played in the final due to the England stand-off's injury.

"At Leicester in particular, nobody's spot is guaranteed," Cockerill told the Leicester Mercury.

"Toby reacts to it very well. He knows that he needs to play very well to be in the side because he wants to play for England.

"George Ford is younger but he is a very good player too. I am hoping he will kick on and be really good for us. Toby the same.

"It is a great headache to have, two really good fly-halves."

Leicester start their campaign away to new boys London Welsh on Sunday.

The Exiles were a major force in the 1970s and provided seven players, including current managing director John Taylor, for the 1971 British and Irish Lions squad - the only Lions team to win a Test series in New Zealand.

They won the Championship title last season but then had to take legal action to overturn a Premiership ruling denying them promotion on the grounds the first team will play its home matches at Oxford United football club's Kassam Stadium.

Meanwhile the difficult task of avoiding occupying the lone relegation place has been made harder by a cheekbone injury to new signing Gavin Henson, suffered in a pre-season friendly, that is set to sideline the former Wales playmaker for six weeks.

"It's not just Leicester on the first Sunday, it's Quins on the Friday after," said London Welsh coach Lyn Jones.

"It's a real test for our squad and their ability, but playing against Leicester will clearly show us what the standards are that we need to reach to do well in the league."

AFP