The build-up to the likely winner-takes-it-all clash between these two behemoths of UAE rugby has been dominated by Quins’ attempts to reschedule the date and Exiles’ refusal to do so.
Quins are missing several players – who are in South Africa attending the wedding of vice chairman and former first team player David Stolzenberg – as well as head coach Mike McFarlane.
When all is said and done though and it comes to 17:00 tomorrow, both teams insist it will be down to business.
“It’s a massive game. There’s still two games left but this one is huge,” said Exiles head coach, Jacques Benade, who is predicting a close contest.
“We really want to focus and win this game. They will do exactly the same and I think there’s going to be some very good rugby.
“It will be very tight and I can’t see there being much more than two or three points in the game. I think it will be very even. Both teams will have to be very disciplined.
“Perhaps there will be a mistake here or there or maybe a piece of brilliance from a player will make the difference on the day.”
Although the victor can virtually guarantee the title, Benade knows next week’s final round of fixtures could also prove pivotal.
Exiles winger Charlie Sargent (l) returns to the squad after missing the last round.
“Of course if we win this one maybe we have one hand on the trophy but Al Ain last week put 30 points on Harlequins, there’s no team that did that before, and they also scored that many against us so we know they’re going to be difficult,” said the South African.
“They love to play rugby and we need to realise to take game after game. We were very worried last weekend against Saracens, having won the West Asia Championship the week before, and how we would
react.”
Although Quins are depleted, Exiles also have a couple of big names missing from their pack, including lock Rinus Bothma and flanker Matt Mills.
Centre Philip Snyman comes back in after missing last week’s game, while winger Matt Richards is back from holiday and UAE international flyer Charlie Sargent also returns after missing the Sarries game because of dental surgery.
Quins’ fly-half Luke Stevenson insists his side will not be using their absentees as an excuse and believes the men from the capital will nevertheless field a strong squad.
“There are a number of senior first team regulars missing but we’ve spent all season having to scrape a team together due to injuries and various other things, so we won’t be using the low numbers as an excuse,” said the man who was instrumental when Quins inflicted a sole West Asia Championship defeat on Exiles a month ago.
Stevenson kicked 22 points in the 32-24 victory – the second time Quins had beaten Exiles this season – with tomorrow providing the third and final installment of this season’s series.
“In terms of leading in to the game, we just know we need to turn up,” said Stevenson.
“The efforts were made to move the game and for whatever reasons it wasn’t possible, but we still have a strong squad and I’m confident the boys coming in will do the job.
“They’re (Exiles) obviously a quality side, and although we’ve beaten them twice this year people would probably still put them as favourites, so we’ll see how it goes.
“We were pretty disappointed in the way the West Asia Championship ended, so hopefully we can make up for that.”
