SKINNER READY FOR WORCESTER CHALLENGE
Will Skinner, the Harlequins captain, will relish the challenge of facing former team-mate Hal Luscombe, who is making his debut for Worcester Warriors today (SAT) having left the Stoop in the summer.
At the half-way stage of the season, 24-year-old Skinner knows that a win over Luscombe's side will propel Quins, currently sixth in the Guinness Premiership, towards a play-off place. Further, it will give them the confidence going in to their final Heineken Cup group games later in the month.
Centre Luscombe, 27, has won 16 caps for Wales and spent two years at Quins, but he has not played for the past nine months thanks to a knee injury.
And flanker Skinner, whose side have not won since achieving a memorable Heineken Cup double over Stade Francais last month, said: "It'll be Hal's first game for Worcester, and he'll be looking to stamp his authority - especially against his old team.
"It'll be good to go up against him, but we will have to watch him carefully as we all know what a good, physical player he is.
"Worcester are a good team and should be higher than tenth in the table. Towards the end of last season they started to play some really good, exciting rugby and they have some great players up there.
"They are also very good away from home - and they have shown that this season. They are definitely a team not to take lightly. We have got to be on top of our game to get the result we want."
The former Leicester No7 continued: "We have a good history against Worcester and more importantly we have to get our Premiership campaign back on track. We are definitely in touching distance of the top four.
"We are looking for an important win this weekend, a win that will give us confidence going in to our last two Heineken Cup group games against Ulster and Scarlets, which are also very tough matches and very important in our European campaign.
"Our next three games, starting with Worcester, are crucial to our season - both in the domestic league and in Europe. Harlequins have to put in good performances if want to progress in both competitions."
Will Skinner, the Harlequins captain, will relish the challenge of facing former team-mate Hal Luscombe, who is making his debut for Worcester Warriors today (SAT) having left the Stoop in the summer.
At the half-way stage of the season, 24-year-old Skinner knows that a win over Luscombe's side will propel Quins, currently sixth in the Guinness Premiership, towards a play-off place. Further, it will give them the confidence going in to their final Heineken Cup group games later in the month.
Centre Luscombe, 27, has won 16 caps for Wales and spent two years at Quins, but he has not played for the past nine months thanks to a knee injury.
And flanker Skinner, whose side have not won since achieving a memorable Heineken Cup double over Stade Francais last month, said: "It'll be Hal's first game for Worcester, and he'll be looking to stamp his authority - especially against his old team.
"It'll be good to go up against him, but we will have to watch him carefully as we all know what a good, physical player he is.
"Worcester are a good team and should be higher than tenth in the table. Towards the end of last season they started to play some really good, exciting rugby and they have some great players up there.
"They are also very good away from home - and they have shown that this season. They are definitely a team not to take lightly. We have got to be on top of our game to get the result we want."
The former Leicester No7 continued: "We have a good history against Worcester and more importantly we have to get our Premiership campaign back on track. We are definitely in touching distance of the top four.
"We are looking for an important win this weekend, a win that will give us confidence going in to our last two Heineken Cup group games against Ulster and Scarlets, which are also very tough matches and very important in our European campaign.
"Our next three games, starting with Worcester, are crucial to our season - both in the domestic league and in Europe. Harlequins have to put in good performances if want to progress in both competitions."
Labels: Guinness Premiership, Hal Luscombe, London Harlequins, Will Skinner, Worcester
