Gallagher Premiership Rugby: 'More pragmatic' Harlequins will return to winning ways, says Brian O’Driscoll

Brian O’Driscoll believes a “more pragmatic” approach is the key to getting Harlequins winning again in the Gallagher Premiership.

Quins lost the opening game of the season but bounced back with four straight victories, earning several plaudits along the way for their attacking style of play.

Their streak was ended by a chastening 38-10 home defeat against derby rivals Saracens and that was followed up by a 36-33 loss away to Northampton Saints.

From first, Harlequins now sit third behind Sale Sharks and Bath and could drop further down the Premiership table after the weekend’s action.

With the European break fast approaching, O’Driscoll pinpointed an area of their game they could improve on before they welcome Sale to the Twickenham Stoop next week.

“It feels like they really need to get back to winning ways just to get a little bit of elevation going into Europe, which doesn't get any easier,” O’Driscoll said on TNT Sports.

“But they're a resilient team. We've seen in the past them bounce back and the capacity to play and score tries, they just need to shore up their defence a little bit and go back to maybe understanding when to kick a little bit better.

“I think they've been kicking on the opposition's terms a little bit too much in the last two weeks. They need to take the bull by the horns and put a little bit of that kicking game back in and maybe play a fraction more pragmatic.

“It's not really in their DNA – that's the problem – but if they do and find a way, and it doesn't always have to be just kicking long, it could be about kicking to regain possession.”

Harlequins made a fast start and took the lead in the fifth minute when Cadan Murley crashed over the line on his return but Northampton quickly responded as the match descended into a back-and-forth try-fest.

Coaching coordinator Danny Wilson acknowledged there was “maybe the odd moment” when Quins could have managed the game better but was more critical of the two sloppy tries his side conceded before the break.

“We looked more like us again today, which was pleasing, but when you score 33 points away from home you should be coming out of here with the win and the five points,” Wilson said. “That’s the frustration.

“We gifted two tries – 14 points – in the first half off two exits, one off a lineout exit, one off a scrum exit, that's just so soft, and we've got to be better in those situations.

“If we deal with those situations, we're walking out of here with a really good away win. It's difficult and frustrating from that point of view but there is a lot to take from last week's performance to this week performance. We look more like us.”

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