Harlequins dazzle in more ways than one

Harlequins 42 Ulster 21:WHEN HARLEQUINS, in their famous multicoloured shirts, meet the even more floridly attired Stade Français in Paris in seven weeks' time, it could be a dazzling spectacle in more ways than one.

The two clubs are the leadership contenders in Pool Four and Stade will have been given food for thought by a Quins performance every bit as vivid as the Parisians' display in overcoming the Scarlets at Stade Jean Bouin earlier on Saturday afternoon.

Last autumn Stade beat Quins by 20 points in Paris and any side containing the Argentina outhalf Juan Martín Hernández will hardly be cowering come December 6th. But Dean Richards's side are improving by the week and, crucially, Hernández should be up against Nick Evans for the clubs' back-to-back meetings before Christmas.

The All Black's recovery from a knee injury that had him hobbling off the field on his Premiership debut at Twickenham last month is almost complete, and while the Australian Chris Malone has been a more than adequate replacement, Quins may just be keeping the seat warm for a playmaker than can help their game to a different level.

Some of Malone's play here was outstanding, notably a pinpoint cross-kick on the hour that fell into his wing Tom Williams's arms for his side's sixth and final try.

Inside him the scrumhalf Danny Care was once more on the top of his game, apart from the rush of blood that led him to obstruct the Ulster scrumhalf Cillian Willis, for which he was sent to the sinbin.

With Quins down to 14 men Ulster put a gloss on the scoreline but the game was already up.

For the rest of the time Care made Willis's afternoon miserable, the 21-year-old doing plenty to impress the watching Martin Johnson as the England manager mulls over his selections for next month's internationals.

Richards had restored Nick Easter to number eight after leaving him on the bench at Llanelli and Johnson may be tempted to use the 30-year-old's guile and experience ahead of the quicker Gloucester eight Luke Narraway this autumn.

HARLEQUINS:Brown; Williams, Monye (Masson, 58), Turner-Hall, Amesbury; Malone (Luveniyali, 71), Care (Gomarsall, 62); Jones, G Botha (Fuga, 62), Ross (Lambert, 68); Kohn (Robson, 62), Evans; Robshaw (Guest, 66), Skinner (capt), Easter. Sinbinned: Care (50).

ULSTER:Cunningham; Nagusa, Cave, Wallace (Dewey, 68), Trimble; O'Connor (Humphreys, 62), Willis (Boss, 68); Court (Fitzpatrick, 46), Best (Brady, 71), B Botha (Court, 75); Del Fava (O'Donoghue, 46), Caldwell; McCullough, Pollack (Dawson, 53). Diack. Sinbinned: McCullough (27).

Referee:T Hayes (Wales).

Guardian Service