Quins have been in superb form all season and proudly sit top of the Aviva Premiership with their play-off position already secured.
EX-HARLEQUINS centre and World Cup winner Will Greenwood insists his former club are a different prospect to years past as their bid to reach the Aviva Premiership final gathers pace.
Quins have been in superb form all season – culminating in last week’s 33-17 derby mauling of London Wasps – and proudly sit top of the Aviva Premiership with their play-off position already secured.
While their style of rugby has always gained admirers Quins have only made the end of season play-offs once before in 2008/9 and were given a 17-0 home semi-final thumping by London Irish.
But with England captain Chris Robshaw leading the side and wins away to Leicester and Toulouse under their belts this season Greenwood believes Quins have added backbone to their undoubted finesse.
“I think they’re a great club and have been playing some great stuff,” said the 39-year-old.
“But bizarrely enough, because Saracens have done it before and because Leicester have done it before there is an element that makes people think one of those will nick it and it’ll just be ‘you’ve been great Quins, well done.’
“However, I think some of the victories they’ve had this season like away in Toulouse, like away at Wembley against Saracens, has shown this is not just a team that can play a bit of rugby, they’ve got a real steel to them as well.
“They are very strong defensively led by Tony Diprose the coach and they have a very shrewd leader in Conor [O’Shea].
“You just go through their coaching staff, it’s young, it’s hungry and it’s copied on the field.”
Anther of Greenwood’s former clubs Leicester – led by the resurgent England fly-half Toby Flood – are set to visit Twickenham Stoop this Saturday looking to rack up their ninth win on the bounce.
Quins can secure a home semi-final by beating second placed Leicester and World Cup winner Greenwood argued that home advantage could prove absolutely vital.
“Historically in any sporting event, in any sport if you get to knock out stages, home advantage gives you a huge boost and with Quins being unbeaten at home in the Premiership this year you can see the importance,” he added.
“You don’t want to be going to Leicester or Saracens when they are on a charge – so I think they will be determined to beat Leicester.
“When you are unsure in sport and gambling, you tend to go with the home side. But I’m certainly not putting more than £3.50 on it.”
Aviva is the proud title sponsor of Premiership Rugby. Tickets for the Aviva Premiership Final at Twickenham on 26 May are currently available with a free rugby shirt at ticketmaster.co.uk
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