Wasps 17-49 Harlequins: Visitors run in six tries
Wasps 17-49 Harlequins: Lee Blackett’s men endure heaviest home league defeat in a decade… with Marcus Smith notching up 17 points for six-try visitors
- Wasps were hammered by high-flying Harlequins 49-17 at the Ricoh Arena
- The comprehensive defeat is the heaviest home league loss for Wasps since 2011
- Quins starlet fly-half Marcus Smith hit 17 points to attract more possible suitors
Harlequins returned to their technicolour best at Wasps having dispensed with Paul Gustard.
The Londoners found a sublime rhythm they rarely managed under their former coach and beat last year’s finalists easily to move them up to sixth in the league.
Wasps endured a horrible day, in which Jacob Umaga was hounded off the park, suffering their largest home loss to Quins and heaviest home league defeat since 2011.
Harlequins destroyed Wasps 49-17 at the Ricoh Arena, with Marcus Smith scoring 17 points
Harlequins scored two tries through Will Evans (hidden) and then Danny Care to take the lead
After Quins coach Nick Evans hailed 21-year-old Marcus Smith – who other clubs are sniffing around – after his 17-point haul.
‘He’s got more talent in his little finger than I ever had,’ said the former All Black fly-half.
‘He wants to play for England. If he keeps performing like that I’ve got no doubt he’ll get there.
‘I definitely hope he stays with performances like that.’
Wasps’ head coach Lee Blackett said: ‘We spoke this week about moving on. The senior players were really good with that. We had a duty to put some pride and passion back into the club.
Harlequins flanker Alex Dombrant charging up-field. He scored the visitor’s third try
Louis Lynagh, son of Australian rugby legend Michael, scored an intercept try for Quins’ fourth
‘We got dominated in every area. We don’t become a bad team overnight, though.’
Since they won the title in 2012 Quins have been flakier than filo pastry, and more likely to crumble under strain.
And having seen off Gustard last week they – as always seems to be the way – turned on the style straight after their coach had been sacked.
They would have had a 20-point lead by half-time if it was not for a Lima Sopoaga penalty on the buzzer.
With way more fight, attitude, flair and fun they scored through Will Evans and Danny Care, who superbly wrestled the ball down when held up over the line by Will Porter after Louis Lynagh made a great break to set the scrum-half up.
Centre James Lang crossed over for Quins’ fifth try before the club won a final penalty try
It was a torrid afternoon for Wasps’ starlet Jacob Umaga (right), who was hounded all game
Sensational Smith kicked two penalties and both conversions as smiles returned to Harlequin faces and assistant coach Jerry Flannery roared his approval incessantly from on high.
After the break Quins even scored from a rolling maul, usually unheard of for them, through Alex Dombrandt but Smith could not convert.
Zach Kibirigie scored out wide for Wasps when they could not find gaps through the middle, which Jimmy Gopperth converted, but when Smith whacked over a long penalty Quins’ lead was out to 18 points with 15 minutes to go.
Wasps’ Tom Willis took a consolation try but Lynagh, son of Australian legend Michael, completed a superb afternoon with an intercept try, James Lang raced in and Quins scored a penalty try for their sixth as they burst back into life.
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