Care And Smith Show Outclasses The Tigers

Marcus Smith and Danny Care showed just why Harlequins were so happy to secure them on new contracts as they proved too hot for Leicester to handle.

- Mike Sinclair

The half-backs may be from the opposite end of the rugby age scale but they are currently the perfect pair for Quins.

Scrum-half Care, pensioned off as an England international by Eddie Jones, may be 34 but – as well as playing an instrumental part in all Quins’ four tries – he provided the livewire input many believe the national side is lacking.

Smith, the Premiership season’s leading points scorer already called up as a Jones “apprentice”, staked another claim as England’s future No.10 with his 22-point haul consisting of a quality try and a seven-from-eight goalkicking performance.

England’s loss also proved a Harlequins gain in the pack where Joe Marler, who exiled himself from the Six Nations campaign, put in huge shift with No.8 Alex Dombrandt, whose claims have also been overlooked by Jones, providing another dominant display.