Richards is happy to be top dog as Quins do the talking

Dean Richards had a cheeky dig back at London Wasps after his Harlequins side powered to the top of the Guinness Premiership. Wasps head coach Shaun Edwards had insisted that his reigning league champions remain the top team in London, even though they are languishing in 10th place.

But after thumping Worcester, director of rugby Richards replied: "I am sure Wasps are delighted to be Wycombe's No1 team. Unlike Wasps, we do reside in London."

Quins ran in 10 tries at the Twickenham Stoop to leapfrog Bath and Leicester by virtue of points difference.

However, with just two points separating the top five, Richards claimed he "couldn't give a monkey's" about leading now and is acutely aware his club could still miss out on the play-off spots thanks to a tough three-match run-in. He said: "Being top is irrelevant when we have three tough games to go. If we are in the top four at the end of the season then I will be happy. We have still got to go away to Sale, Bath are Heineken Cup quarter-finalists and Newcastle are not the pushovers they were six months ago.

"There is a real ambition to achieve something this year. The side has matured a long way, but if you are saying first is great, it is not. You achieve nothing with three games to go."

Although Quins were top for a week in September this is the first time they have led the Premiership so late in the competition and Nick Easter believes the success is down to the club's demotion four years ago.

The England No8 said: "Getting relegated was the best thing that could have happened to the club because it meant the management and coaches could start from scratch, build up a new squad and produce a style of rugby that we all enjoy."