Aviva Premiership
Robshaw: Harlequins need a flying start
ESPN Staff
August 13, 2014
Harlequins skipper Chris Robshaw lifts the Aviva Premiership trophy, Harlequins v Leicester Tigers, Aviva Premiership Final, Twickenham, England, May 26, 2012
Chris Robshaw is desperate for more silverware with Harlequins © Getty Images
Enlarge

Chris Robshaw believes it is vital Harlequins get off to a flying start in the new Aviva Premiership season should they want to challenge for silverware.

Harlequins clinched a third successive play-off place last campaign with five victories in their final six fixtures, but Robshaw hopes a quick start this time around will relieve some of the pressure.

Quins begin their season against London Irish as part of a Twickenham double-header on September 6, the same venue they narrowly beat London Welsh at in last season's curtain-raiser.

"We dug ourselves out of a hole last season," Robshaw told the Harlequins official website. "We had a tough year with injuries and started a bit slow, so we left ourselves with a bit to do.

"Every season you want to be in the top four and have a shot of getting silverware at the end of the season. The last six matches were must-win games, which were tough and quite exhausting, but the effort of the guys was outstanding to get ourselves [to the play-offs].

"Hopefully we can start the season a bit better this year, hit the ground running and get ourselves in a good position for the rest of the year.

"What better place to start than at Twickenham in front of a big crowd. The players love it, hopefully the fans do too and hopefully we can come away with another opening day win."

Robshaw, who has been replaced as Quins captain by England prop Joe Marler for the upcoming season, is expecting another gruelling campaign. While he believes the club has strengthened, Robshaw is aware everyone else has too.

"Everyone has recruited extremely well this summer and every season gets tougher and tougher," Robshaw added. "You can't relax more for one game than you can for another.

"Every game must have your complete and utter focus, and you can't really rest guys for any matches. You have to rely on good squads and that's what we've developed here as a club."

Harlequins face Saracens at the Stoop in Round Two; earlier in August, the club revealed plans to boost capacity at their stadium to 20,000.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.