Harlequins boss plans Saracens play-off upset
HARLEQUINS director of rugby Conor O’Shea insists it will be their greatest ever achievement if his side go on to lift the Aviva Premiership trophy this season after they secured the final play-off spot.
Mike Brown’s first-half score and 14 points from Nick Evans saw Quins secure a 19-16 win over Bath Rugby at the Stoop to pip their opponents into the fourth play-off position on Saturday. That victory was their fifth on the bounce and set up a semi-final clash with Saracens at Allianz Park in five days’ time, and O’Shea believes his men can upset the Premiership’s standout side this year.
“I can’t wait for the Saracens game. It’s going to be a challenge, they are the best team in the country by a country mile, but maybe they won’t fancy playing us before the Heineken Cup final,” he said.
“Everyone had written us off when we lost to Saracens at Wembley but we’ve beaten Bath, Exeter, Sale, Leicester and London Irish and we’ve made it. If this team wins its next two games it will be the greatest achievement for this club and we’re looking forward to the challenge.
“Against Saracens it’s a one-off game. I’m ecstatic that we’ve made it and we will go there and give it our all.”
Saracens were not able to finish their regular season with a win as a much-changed side were beaten 31-27 by defending champions Leicester Tigers at Welford Road, though they still finished top of the Premiership table for the second successive season.
London Wasps suffered a hugely disappointing end to the season as they lost 74-13 to Northampton Saints, who sealed a play-off spot.
London Irish enjoyed a 22-20 victory over Sale Sharks, with England wing Marland Yarde dotting down in his last appearance for the club.
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