Harlequins head coach Ross Chisholm believes Beth Wilcock will be crucial to his side’s chances of beating arch rivals Saracens at StoneX stadium on Sunday.
The winger scored a try in October’s PWR Cup final loss to Sarries, and was one of the game’s standout players even as her side were beaten.
The 24-year-old also netted a stunning solo effort in last week’s PWR opener against Loughborough Lightning, finishing from a 60-metre run after intercepting a sloppy pass.
Chisholm said: “Beth was obviously in phenomenal form in the Prem Cup.
“She’s someone who’s playing really, really well.
“I’ve been really impressed with her recent form and she’s a big character in our group.
“We’re just focusing on us, focusing on our process, and Beth is a big part of that.”
Speedster Wilcock joined Harlequins in 2019, and has made more than 50 appearances for the West London side.
After a solid league campaign last season, the Premier 15s winner burst into life in the Cup and carried that form into Friday’s fixture against Loughborough.
Connie Powell, meanwhile, was similarly complimentary about ex-Quins full-back Chisholm and believes he can lead the west Londoners to glory this season.
She said: “Everybody trusts in Ross so much.
“What he puts out for us, the way his tactical nous is around the game, everyone buys into that.
“I think we’re going to be unstoppable this year.”
Ipswich native Powell joined Quins in 2023 after becoming a PWR Champion with Gloucester-Hartpury, and has become a key player for the club.
She is also a fixture in the England team, having first made the squad in 2021 and been involved in the past two World Cups.
Powell also identified physicality as being key to securing victory over Saracens in the London derby clash.
She said: “We need to be as physical as we can be.
“You’ve gotta go out there and be really confrontational.
“If you lose that physical battle then it can be hard to keep up.
“It’s bully or get bullied.”
Feature image: Shutterstock/Andrew Fosker/Harlequins Women
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