A month ago, something very strange happened. Louis Lynagh got outside Tom O’Flaherty and scored in the corner at Twickenham. Smith drilled the hardest conversion of his career and took quins to 40 points, enough to win the premiership final. In the dark months of September through to early January, Harlequins looked aimless. Resigned to the lower end of the table they had become so comfortable in over the last few seasons. Suggestions from Rugby Pass were that it was a player revolt that saw Gustard’s exit in January. Whilst pure conjecture, the nature of the team after their momentous Premiership win, the togetherness of the squad seems to support the rumours. Harlequins as a group of players, then banded together and dragged themselves to a narrow fourth in the league, to get themselves into the tournament. A position the could not have reached under Gustard. Danny Care described the team as “so fourth,” prior to the semi-final with Bristol, emphasising the level of underdog that Harlequins were. So now can they do it again? Can they come close? If they do, how? 

In the words of DJ Khaled Harlequins next year may find themselves suffering from success. Smith’s call up to England and then the Lions shows he is considered to be in the world class bracket. Thus he may well be spending a large portion of future seasons in the white rather than the quarters. 

This is not just the case for Smith. Kenningham, Dombrandt, Evans, Marchant and even the newly acquired Huw Jones may find themselves called to international duty over the season. With others also being lost to national squads Quins will likely be fielding an understrength side in an uncomfortable number of games this season. 

Billy Millard and the management team however have clearly anticipated this. The out of favour Italian Fly-half Thomas Allen has been brought in to bolster the ten spot. Huw jones, similarly not appearing regularly in his own national set up at the moment has been brought in to help share the load with a Marchant primed for England success. Nick David provides ample cover in the back three and a nice hooker battle is forming between England U20 Sam Riley and Bath import Jack Walker.

Success has also put Harlequins in an unfamiliar place, being a legitimate European threat. Whilst they won the challenge cup in the 2010-11 season they have never been a player on the European stage in the way they could be this year. Balancing the two competitions will be a headache for the management team. However with the draw putting them up against Castres and Cardiff, fairly favourable options, they should be looking to really threaten in the champions cup as well as the premiership. 

A common criticism of Harlequins was that the victory was a flash in the pan, because their style of play cannot guarantee consistency. This season showed it clearly can, but next season Harlequins must confirm it. One of the concerns Harlequins will have this season however, is that with such a strong playing identity teams will be better prepared to take them on. It seems a compelling theory. Except that the teams that many thought would be able to install game plans that would restrict quins attack, the likes of Chiefs, Tigers and Bristol were drawn into the shootouts Harlequins thrive in. The inherent unpredictability of the quins system will also help keep teams off balance despite having a half season of experience against it.

A team that are yet to have any experience against this new Harlequins side is Saracens. The return of the London side will present a serious obstacle to every club, but particularly the top four. Make no mistake, Saracens will threaten the number one spot not the number four spot. They have a pretty good claim to be favourite this season despite their time in the championship. Whilst some players’ form did suffer, having arguably the best player in the world in Maro Itoje, and the wealth of other talent available to them they will be a serious force in their return season. 

Danny Care is the most dangerous scrum-half to have played in the professional era. There, I said it. By no means does that make him the best, that accolade goes comfortably to the 100 cap man Aaron Smith. In terms of having the ability to break a game open, there is no one better than the ageing Harlequins legend. With another England call up seeming unlikely, Care will be integral to Harlequins season. If they can get 20 odd games from DC Harlequins will more likely than not, be toward the top of the table, he is that valuable to the way they play. 

On the subject of players being valuable to the way Harlequins play. Allen and Jones amongst some other new signings, have a chance to slot in wonderfully with the Harlequins way. Allen is an attacking minded fly-half with a notably reliable boot from hand. Perhaps not the elite level threat with the ball in hand like Marcus Smith. He is however an effective distributor, who most importantly, takes he ball to the line regularly. A feature that will combine well with Huw Jones. The Flying Scotsman’s best performances have come when taking the ball from an elite, on the gain line distributor, in Finn Russell. His link with half backs could be a major threat for quins this year, especially when you consider the success that lower ceiling players like Luke Northmore have had there.

So then. Can they do it? In short, Yes. The style of play that Harlequins employed over the second half of last season showed itself to be effective against both top four and mid to low table teams. Harlequins appear to have bought back into this identity and if they continue to play the way they have shown they can, they have a real chance of being a major threat to the title. Their style of play will be particularly dangerous in the knockout element of the competition as was proved this year. They might find it more difficult to get into the top four, than to win a semi-final and final. So here’s to hoping that Harlequins can manage to rustle something up once again. After a Lions tour that was considered a bad advert for the game, there can be nothing better than some champagne joué from the men from Twickenham.