Burke can Brive fire

14 April 2012

Harlequins will be fully tested by French flair and fire over the next two weekends, with fly-half Paul Burke confident-that the side can at last shake off the tag of being "the underachievers of English rugby".

It is an exciting time for Quins, who are in the unusual position of selecting from an entirely fit squad for tomorrow's Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final first-leg visit of Brive.

Jason Leonard plays at tight-head prop and Ace Tiatia is chosen on the blindside flank as boss Mark Evans, delighted at the competition for places which full availability has brought, names players of the calibre of Tony Diprose, Mike Worsley and Bill Davison on the bench.

Burke and Will Greenwood are the only survivors of the team which won 20-13 in Brive in early 2001, when that quarter-final victory propelled Quins to European Shield success.

But trophies have generally been in short supply in recent times for a club with the reputation of being aristocrats of English domestic rugby, a state of affairs which Burke says Quins are desperate to change.

Burke said: "I have been at Quins for four years now and I'm as aware as anyone that people call us the underachievers of English rugby. But things are looking very good at the moment and hopefully we can begin to show everyone what we can do.

"We began this season well, but then a lot of injuries kicked in. It is only in recent weeks, with those having cleared up and our World Cup players having returned, that a clearer picture has been created. We are still joint fourth in the Zurich Premiership and getting to the last eight of the Parker Pen also gives us a great chance of pushing on towards success.

"But Brive will be a stern test for us and we must win the first leg. To go to France (for the return leg) is hard at any time, but to have to go there to win will make it very tough. Whatever happens in the first game, we must keep our concentration levels up."

It was Burke's vision which opened the gap for Greenwood to sprint away for an 80-metre match-winning try at Brive in 2001, but since then the proud French club have been steadily rebuilding the strength which saw them win the second Heineken Cup in 1997 - when they defeated Leicester 28-9 - and then lose by just a single point to Bath in the 1998 competition.

Currently, they top their pool in the French Championship and beat Castres in the previous round of the Parker Pen Cup. Alain Penaud, their fly-half, is a former French international and Saracens favourite, and Burke is looking forward to locking horns with his astute opponent.

"All eight remaining teams are capable of making it to the final," added Burke. "And that's certainly the case with Brive. They are a team with a lot of younger players who I think will become big names in French rugby."

Saracens also face serious French opposition in Montferrand, although they must play away from home in their first leg on Sunday. Sarries' head coach Rod Kafer is hopeful that former France captain Raphael Ibanez will shake off a leg muscle strain to take his place at hooker.

Fellow forwards Cobus Visagie and Simon Raiwalui are doubtful, however, and Richard Hill will be out of action until 7 February, but Kyran Bracken and Taine Randell are fit to return.

Kafer is also expecting a big performance from Thomas Castaignede at fly-half. He said: "Thomas has been outstanding in recent weeks and the team in general are improving.

"He is keen to get back into the France team for the Six Nations and these games with Montferrand give him the perfect opportunity."

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