Harlequins are preparing for their opening match of the 2024/25 Premiership campaign, with the tall order of a trip up to Sale set for round one. Quins will be led out by their newly appointed club captain, with England back row Alex Dombrandt eager to lay down a marker in what has historically been a difficult fixture for his side.
Quins have only achieved one Premiership win up in the North West since 2015, being a 29-13 away win in October 2022. The Sharks take a significant home field advantage into their recent meetings, with a trip to Sale considered amongst the more difficult away days for the Premiership clubs. Dombrandt recognises the need for a solid defensive effort against the sharp-toothed Greater Manchester side.
Speaking in a recent Harlequins media session, Dombrandt praised the work of new Harlequins defence coach Jason Gilmore, who joined the Londoners back in June.
“I think a big work on has been our defence. I think obviously, with the addition of Gilly (Jason Gilmore) coming in to take over on our defence. I think he’s been brilliant. He’s bought that clarity and detail, and the boys have responded really well. We showed in preseason those sort of strides we’ve made in that area already.
“I think the most exciting thing for me at the moment is that we’re only just scratching the surface, so I think we can really get after it. It’s exciting to see how far we can take it. So, looking forward to that.”
Gilmore arrived at the Twickenham Stoop before Harlequins embarked upon their pre-season campaign, with one of two defence coach vacancies snapped up in the Twickenham area. The other available role concerns the England team, with Felix Jones currently out of the picture from the goings on at the Allianz Stadium.
Dombrandt was asked about whether he believes his former Harlequins head of rugby Paul Gustard could take the job, with the current Stade Francais head coach reportedly on Steve Borthwick’s radar. Gustard makes up a three-man shortlist also including Oyonnax head coach Joe El-Abd, and Stormers assistant coach Norman Laker.
“He’s a great defence coach. I think his record speaks for itself. I got on well with ‘Guzzy’, I had a good relationship with him. So no, I think if he got that role, I think he’d be great. But, I haven’t really heard much about that, so can’t talk too much about it.”
Whilst the rumour mill will keep spinning for the time being regarding the future of the England defence staff, the Harlequins defensive game plan for the new season is set in stone. The Premiership’s resident entertainers, Harlequins in recent seasons have lived up to their court jester logo, with the end-to-end encounters seeing them win by out-scoring their opponents.
However, missing out on the play-offs last season was a frustrating result for the men in the famous quarters, with a new mentality taken to their game plan for the new campaign. Whilst Harlequins will never fully stray away from their entertainment DNA, Dombrandt explained how a greater onus has been placed upon the team’s defensive fortitude, with the aim of once again making the Stoop an impenetrable fortress for the Premiership clubs.
“If you win and try and make your home a fortress, if you like, and win most of your home games, and you can pick up a handful of away games, I think you’re going to be there or thereabouts in the top four. So, I don’t think we’re looking at home or away as something to target, we’re going into every game to win, that’s the plan.”
“More on the (defensive) system. I don’t think there’s been much talk about sort of shape of players, per se, but no, definitely there’s been a big focus on the clarity and detail of the (defence) system and making sure that that everyone’s buying into that and performing that.”
Whilst Dombrandt is set to officially lead Harlequins in a Premiership game as club captain for the first time, the number eight has previously experienced the additional responsibilities that come with donning the proverbial armband. Throughout the tenure of previous club captain Stephan Lewies, Dombrandt would step up to lead on occasion, when the South African lock was out on the sidelines with injuries.
Such previous experience has certainly given Dombrandt a confidence boost ahead of the trip up to Sale, yet the back row expressed that there certainly are areas of his newfound duties that have taken some getting used to.
“He’s (Stephan Lewies) been great, I’ve said previously what a great job he did whilst he was captain. I think he’s left that role with the club in a great position. So now we have a great relationship, great friendship, and he’s been massive for me in terms of another person that I can lean on with issues and advice and things like that. So, he’s really big for me.”
“It’s been quite, I like to think a smooth transition.” Dombrandt said. “I think obviously stepping in whilst Steph has been injured over the last couple of couple of seasons, you get used to being captain and the things that go with that.
“So having that experience of that, and there’s a few extra responsibilities in the day to day running of things and being involved in a couple more conversations. But on the whole, I’m of trying to keep everything the same and not try to be different, and just be myself, really.”