Wood in secret French lesson for Quins

Keith Wood had no hesitation in using his position as Ireland captain to find out exactly what kind of test his Harlequins side will face in their European Shield quarter-final at Brive next Sunday.

Wood used the launch of the Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship to sound out France captain Fabien Pelous. "It was a very useful discussion," said Wood, who finds himself chasing success in Europe with both club and country.

Last season Wood, on a sabbatical year with Munster, reached the final of the Heineken Cup where they lost to Northampton.

He said: "The Shield is definitely a lower level than the Cup but I expect there will be an upsurge in attention at the weekend. I have played Brive before when Quins lost in the Cup four years ago in a great game."

Wood's return to Quins in December, following a lay-off with a shoulder injury, coincided with an improvement in results and a place in the Tetley's Bitter Cup Final next month.

Wood says: "I feel a lot more confident with the style we are playing and the players are a little bit more comfortable with it.