Accurate Quins 'buzzing' after opener
All Black Nick Evans and new dad Danny Care starred as Harlequins got the revamped European Champions Cup season underway on Friday with a 25-9 win over French side Castres.
Quins coach Conor O'Shea was relieved at the result after his side's difficult start to the season.
"We haven't been buzzing recently, but it won't take much to get the team buzzing again,"O'Shea said.
"That was control, we were really ambitious with the way we played in that first half.
"That was not a weak Castres front five, but our scrum and line-out were excellent.
"We have a long way to go, we know that, but this was a real step forward."
It was a big What a night of celebrations for Harlequins as they ushered in a new era of Europe's premier club competition with an impressive win.
England full back Mike Brown celebrated his 50th European game, Nick Evans went through 400 points in all European competitions, but it was Danny Care who stole the show.
The new father is now destined to join Didier Lacroix as one of those eternal rugby quiz questions after scoring the first Champions Cup try after 65 minutes of tense struggle. Toulouse back row man Lacroix scored the first try in the old European Cup 19 years ago in the unlikely surroundings of the Black Sea resort of Constanta.
Care celebrated with a Brazilian style 'rock the baby' celebration and Quins director of rugby Conor O'Shea admitted after the game that everything had been planned from the start.
"Before the game started I went up to Danny asked him if he was going to do what Romario did many years ago when he was playing for Brazil and he duly delivered," said O'Shea.
"He wanted to play so well against Castres because he is looking forward to four weeks sleeping at Pennyhill Park with the England team next month. He's loving it and you can see that, although I've warned him the first few weeks are pretty easy though."
Care was delighted to have scored the opening try on a special night at the Twickenham Stoop, but was quick to pay tribute to his half-back partner Nick Evans, who helped himself to 20 points with an impeccable goal-kicking display.
"Accuracy has been a big thing for us this season. We know that if we keep hold of the ball we will cause a few teams problems," said Care.
"I was the lucky one to get on the end of a magical kick by Nick Evans. I think we needed a night like this. We need a dogged fight and we are happy to come away with the four points.
"Nick is a wonderful player, one of the best I've ever played with and we are lucky to have him. Hopefully he will keep going for a couple more years and puts on more masterclasses like he did in this match."
Back row dynamo Wallace put on a show that will no doubt have caught the eye of the England selectors as he helped Quins dominate the battle of the breakdown. The Man of the Match award was the icing on the cake for him.
"We have been under a bit of pressure and all week we had talked about enjoying our game and I think we really did that. We put the game we wanted onto the park and we're happy about that," said Wallace.
"The way they played helped me because they spread the ball wide and some of them got a bit isolated. We have to face Wasps next and, even though we might know the opposition a bit better, it is still going to be all about us really going into the game."
Before the game O'Shea said that he felt his side were much better than their record of three wins and three defeats in the Aviva Premiership demonstrated. What he is hoping is that this win over Castres will kick-start the season.
"We haven't been buzzing recently, but it won't take much to get the team buzzing again. That was control, we were really ambitious with the way we played in that first half," he said.
"That was not a weak Castres front five, but our scrum and line-out were excellent. We have a long way to go, we know that, but this was a real step forward."
