Stoop showdown: Quins to turn up the heat for Stormers
SPOTLIGHT: Hosts Harlequins and the Stormers are both coming off disheartening losses in Round One of the Champions Cup.
On Saturday the English club will host their South African rivals in a crunch clash at Twickenham Stoop – a game both must win to keep their respective seasons alive.
The Stormers lost to three-time European champions Toulon (14-24) in a game moved to Port Elizabeth to accommodate the annual Cape Town Sevens, while Harlequins lost to Racing 92 (12-23) Stade Dominique Duvauchelle in Créteil, France.
This week Quins have the home-ground advantage – Twickenham Stoop Stadium in south-west London, just across the road from Twickenham Stadium.
Harlequins utility forward Jack Kenningham said it is a ‘great opportunity’ to set the record straight.
It is a huge challenge, with a determined Stormers team arriving at The Stoop.
After last week’s defeats, the pressure is on right from the start for both teams.
However, a win this week will put either team right back in the mix.
“Last year we started well – beating Racing [in the opening round] then we lost to Toulouse at home,” the loose forward said.
“We just need to flip that.
“Having lost our first game, we need to put that behind us and prepare for the Stormers.
“A big win at home will put us back in the driving seat.”
He added that it is early in the season and there are opportunities to ‘pick up points’ with wins and bonus points the next three rounds – with a trip to Stade Felix Mayol and a face-off against Toulon, followed by a home game against Glasgow Warriors in January.
Both teams are travelling this week.
However, Quins’ flight is a short hop from Paris after the loss to Racing.
In contrast, the Stormers – who player ‘away’ in Port Elizabeth in Round One, have to travel to London from Cape Town – leaving them with a more condensed week than their hosts.
“We have a really good opportunity with a home game,” Kenningham said, adding: “First we have to get our own game right and then deal with whatever the Stormers bring.”
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