Sale Sharks 43 Harlequins 17

Quins were once the second half comeback Kings and the supreme enrertainers but no longer after successive maulings by Bristol Bears and Sale Sharks. So what’s happened?

The obvious explanation is that key players like Andre Esterhuizen , Joe Marler and Danny Care have gone and not been replaced.    The  3 Argentinians- Rodrigo Isgro, Petiit and Delgado are fine players as is the back row Chandler Cunningham South  so adept in getting forward but not the calibre of those who have departed.

The game has moved on since 2021 when Quins last won the title. The South African influence be it the Bath Rugby cosch Johan van Graan or the Proteans being World Champions has been game changer and Quins head coach Jason Gilmore is not moving with it.

Quins started well enough and were leading at halftime but Sale Sharks scored 5 tries to win emphatically.

It’s not as if either Bristol Beats or Sale Sharks are top four teams. They are not.

This is a dilemma that West Ham and Spurs supporters know namely  do you win with style or not win at all?