Marcus Smith misses Quins clash with Saracens

September 16, 2022
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Ultimate Rugby

Harlequins’ coaching group has made three changes to the starting XV this week as the Club hosts London rivals Saracens on Saturday (15:00 kick-Off)

England internationals Joe Marchant and Will Collier earn their first starts of the season having appeared from the bench during last weekend’s opening round victory over Newcastle.

Marchant starts on the right wing in place of Nick David, who drops out of the team due to injury, seeing Lennox Anyanwu and Luke Northmore continuing the centre partnership established during pre-season.

Flanker Will Evans will also earn his first start of the season, replacing Tom Lawday at openside flanker. Archie White returns to the matchday squad in the 20 jersey, with Tom Lawday dropping from the squad having left the field due to injury during last week’s victory over Newcastle.

Amongst the Impact Players, Academy centre Hayden Hyde will look to make his Gallagher Premiership debut from the 23 jersey, having impressed during pre-season fixtures and for partner club London Scottish.

Summer signing Irne Herbst will make his first competitive appearance at the Stoop in front of a sold-out crowd, while hooker George Head and centre Anyanwu play their first home matches as senior players in front of a packed-out home audience.

Both homegrown players made impressive starts to their senior careers with Harlequins last weekend, with Head seeing Quins claim a 100% record at the lineout (the only club to do so during round one) while Anyanwu claimed a length of the field team try that would go on to be runner-up for the try of the week.

Alex Dombrandt continues to lead the side as Club Captain Stephan Lewies returns from injury.

Danny Care continues to rehabilitate a minor muscle strain sustained during pre-season, looking to return to the Harlequins matchday squad over the next two weeks.

Unfortunately for the Club, fly-half Marcus Smith was not given clearance to play this week and will continue his mandated rest period following England’s summer internationals.

Head Coach Tabai Matson said: “It was an entertaining first blowout in Newcastle last week. In the end, we were pretty happy with the result. In that first game of the year, you want to see what you’ve been working on in pre-season put into the game, and get a look at how some things work and how others don’t.

“All in all we saw what we wanted to see from that first hit out, with plenty for us to go back and have a think about for the season ahead. We scored six tries, which was good, and created some opportunities with some new combinations that haven’t played together before. Overall, we were pretty positive off the back of that first hit-out.

“We have a great challenge this week against some old rivals in what should be an entertaining all-London clash in front of a sold-out Stoop."

Harlequins Starting XV

1. Joe Marler

2. George Head

3. Will Collier

4. George Hammond

5. Irne Herbst

6. Jack Kenningam

7. Will Evans

8. Alex Dombrandt – captain

9. Lewis Gjaltema

10. Tommy Allan