Harlequins returned to winning ways with a bonus-point victory in a match most significant for a first appearance for the visiting flanker Jack Willis in 53 weeks. Willis sustained the second horrendous knee injury of his career just over the road when playing for England against Italy last February, and has spoken candidly about his struggles along the path to recovery. Here he played the last 35 minutes from the bench and above all else it warmed the heart to see him back in the thick of it.
By the time he had got his bearings, Harlequins – bolstered by the surprise availability of Joe Marler – had raced into a 24-3 lead with tries from Oscar Beard, Huw Jones, Cadan Murley and André Esterhuizen. Louis Lynagh added another for Harlequins to leave Wasps, who had won their previous four Premiership matches, reeling.
While there were one or two signs of rust from the 25-year-old Willis, it was no coincidence Wasps fought back to within five points after his introduction.
“He added a bit to us,” said Wasps’ coach, Lee Blackett. “When he came on we started going forward and on the back of that the breakdown got easier. Today was big for him. I’m just happy for Jack, it has been a long time, it has been tough for him.”
Marler, meanwhile, has played a combined 31 minutes in England’s two Six Nations matches, and though Eddie Jones picked a smaller squad for last week’s training camp, the loosehead prop’s omission still caught the eye. He will almost certainly return to a wider squad on Sunday but there can be little doubt that Harlequins benefited from his experience, set-piece nous and sense of theatre.
“Even before [Joe] joined England for the Six Nations he said if there are any fallow weeks and I’m not getting much game time then I’d love to come and play,” said the Harlequins coach, Tabai Matson. “Clearly he’s had that conversation with Eddie Jones, which is fantastic for us. On the back of that surely he’ll be playing [next Saturday] against Wales. At his best he’s one of the best players in the competition.”
Given the blustery conditions, a repeat of the 94-point thriller edged by Harlequins in the corresponding fixture last season was always unlikely. But the hosts did not begin like a side who had lost their past three matches.
A last-minute penalty from Paddy Jackson was enough for London Irish to snatch victory in a thrilling Premiership encounter as they toppled second-placed Saracens 32-30 in the capital.
In a lightning quick start, Benhard Van Rensburg crossed over in the corner after taking a long pass from Curtis Rona inside the opening two minutes. Then Van Rensburg went over in the right-hand corner untouched for his second score.
The rest of the half passed without much incident until Tom Woolstencroft bundled over for Saracens from the back of a driving maul following a lineout.
Ay the start of the second half Adam Coleman touched down, with Jackson's extras putting the home side's lead back to nine points. Rotimi Segun went over for Saracens, before Irish restored their lead with a bonus-point try straight away as Ollie Hassell-Collins touched down in the corner.
A penalty from Lozowski with less than seven minutes to play cut the lead to six, then Coleman was sent off for a high tackle on Alex Lewington with five minutes remaining. A Nick Tompkins try in the corner cut the lead, with Lozowski keeping his cool to put the visitors ahead for the first time with three minutes remaining.
Irish made one last push to grab the victory and a penalty for offside – right in front of the posts in the dying seconds – was slotted over with ease by Jackson to take the points and move the hosts up three places to fifth in the table.
Northampton director of rugby Chris Boyd rued missed opportunities as his side suffered a narrow 22-21 defeat to Sale at Franklin's Gardens. George Furbank's kick at the death sailed wide and there was agony for the home side and ecstasy for the away side.
Sale raced into a 10-0 lead when Arron Reed ran a try in from the half-way line after AJ MacGinty's penalty, but through Juarno Augustus Saints hit back quickly with a try of their own. At half-time Sale led 15-14 with Sam James scoring for the visitors, before Alex Coles scored just before the break.
Saints took the lead for the first time through Alex Mitchell just after half-time, but Rohan Janse van Rensburg's try and AJ MacGinty's conversion put Sale into the match-winning 22-21 lead. Furbank's effort went wide at the death to the frustration of the home supporters.
Wasps were not helped by losing Tom Cruse to injury after 30 seconds but Harlequins were into gear from the word go. They struck with a trademark opening try from Beard after three minutes, Danny Care lighting the touch paper with a quick tapped penalty. Marler was also making his presence felt, winning a turnover at the breakdown to earn Harlequins some welcome respite and a scrum penalty, much to the delight of the home supporters.
By that stage Harlequins had stretched their advantage to nine points – Jones taking a short pass from Esterhuizen and piercing the defence. It put the home side in command at the interval, with Wasps having a solitary Jacob Umaga penalty to show for their efforts.
Harlequins struck with two tries in three minutes early in the second half, Murley finishing the first after a series of offloads before Esterhuizen added the second with a powerful finish from close range– Willis coming on in between those scores.
His brother Tom finally got Wasps going in the second half in the left corner before a flying finish from the replacement Lynagh gave Harlequins a lead they surely could not let slip. Wasps did rally but tries from Sam Spink and Jeff Toomaga-Allen were enough only for a losing bonus-point.
