It’s the Abu Dhabi derby this weekend with the capital’s two teams coming into the early season crunch game at very opposite ends of the spectrum.
While resurgent Saracens are looking to build on a fantastic win last time out over Dubai Hurricanes, Harlequins are peering into the murky abyss after losing their opening two Sport360° UAE Premiership games by a combined total of three points.
Despite the lacklustre start to the season, Quins prop and media officer Graham Murphy says the mood among the players and coaches is positive ahead of an exciting derby game.
“This could be the perfect game to ignite our season,” said the Irishman.
“Everyone’s looking forward to this, they have been for the last two weeks, and we can’t wait. Apart from points there’s local pride at stake.”
Murphy has been excited by the emergence of the Abu Dhabi rivalry as champions Jebel Ali Dragons have long been considered Quins’ main foe.
He added: “Sarries have come on loads in a few years and it’s become an enjoyable rivalry. The lads know each other well and there’s a lot of Sarries players who used to play for us, but friendship goes out the window Friday night.”
While many will point to two defeats from two for Quins, Murphy chose to highlight the manner in which they lost to Canes 16-15 on opening night and Dragons 19-17 last week.
“Rugby’s a funny game. If it was 79 minutes long we’d have won both games so far. I think this is the perfect game to kick-start our season and fire everyone up.”
In trying times, Murphy praised the youngsters who have really stepped up to the plate, including teenage trio Adel Al Hendi, Matt Hawley and Iziq Fao’i, with all three scoring tries this season.
Quins are missing prop Chris Jones Griffiths, who is away, for Friday’s game, but they will be buoyed by the return of talismanic scrum half Ed Lewsey, who is set to start for the first time this season.
Sarries head coach Ali Thompson wants to see both Abu Dhabi teams doing well, although he is adamant there will be no room for sentiment come Friday night in a game being dubbed the “Capital Cup”.
He said: “It’s a massive game and we’ll be going all out for the win, if that means relegating Quins into the second tier after Christmas, then so be it.”
Thompson also warned his players against complacency and said it is important not to get carried away considering who the opposition are and following last week’s 19-15 victory over Canes.
“We want to get better every week but absolutely no-one is resting on their laurels.”
