Controversy continues for Harlequins

Harlequins were plunged into fresh controversy just 46 seconds into the new season and they will find themselves back in familiar territory – in front a disciplinary hearing – in the coming days.

Lock forward George Robson was sent off at the start of Harlequins’ 26-15 defeat by Wasps at Twickenham, the club’s first chance to start building bridges after their summer of shame.

Unlike the Bloodgate scandal that has stained Harlequins’ reputation, this time there was real blood and it oozed from the nose of Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson.

Robson can expect a suspension of at least a month for his moment of madness that forced Harlequins into another public relations disaster.

Their head coach, John Kingston, did nothing to address the issue when given his chance immediately after the match, preferring to refuse any comment until he had reviewed the videos.

Robson apologised for his actions but the sentiment cut little ice with Simpson, who left Twickenham still feeling sore and “wobbly”.

“He came and said sorry after the match, which I accepted, but I am still pretty frustrated and disappointed with what happened,” said Simpson.

“It is not really the spirit of rugby, I don’t think.”

That was a cutting criticism from Simpson given the summer Harlequins have had.

They were always going to be under the microscope at Twickenham yesterday after being found guilty of using fake blood capsules in an attempt to cheat their way to victory in last season’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster.

The irony that it was referee Dean Richards, namesake of the suspended former Harlequins director of rugby, who sent Robson off was not lost on anyone.

Kingston was angry that all the post-match attention was placed on the Robson incident and pleaded for Harlequins to receive the credit they deserved for the remaining 79 minutes.

Quins indeed responded defiantly to Robson’s departure, taking a 12-5 lead with tries from Ugo Monye and new signing Gonzalo Camacho.

But eventually they ran out of gas and Wasps sealed the victory with a brace from debutant Tom Varndell and a penalty try.

“I thought the players performed admirably. They showed a tremendous resolve which in the circumstances, when you lose a man in the first minute, it would have been very easy to fold,” said Kingston.

“Knowing what I know about them, we knew it was never going to happen. We showed huge resolve but from the first minute we never had the opportunity to show what we are about.”

Wasps showed what they are about in flashes but with Danny Cipriani growing in influence through the game and Varndell relishing his new start it proved to be enough.

“Tom has shown us through the pre-season that he is more than just a try-scorer. What is really pleasing when a player has 11 or 14 on their back is when they take their chances and Tom did that,” said Wasps boss Tony Hanks.

“His work-rate is strong, he runs hard and he is more than just a try-scorer.”

In the first game of the London double-header, which drew a crowd in excess of 67,000, Saracens held out to beat last year’s beaten Grand Finalists London Irish 18-14.

Sarries took an 18-3 lead with a try, conversion and two penalties by Glen Jackson and another touchdown by Andy Saull.

London Irish hit back after the interval with a try from George Stowers and at one point midway through the second period Saracens were reduced to 13 men.

But the Men In Black opened the new Brendan Venter regime with a battling win, which delighted England skipper Steve Borthwick.

“It was a display of great character,” he said.

“It was always going to be a tight game and they came back at us. But the way every single person fought for the ball – our players are willing to fight and work so very, very hard.

“We won because of the character of the group. The willingness of the guys to put themselves out for each other was what won us the game.”

With Leicester losing to Sale on Friday and Quins falling to Wasps, last year’s top three were all beaten on the opening weekend.