Tabai Matson credited his team's defending as Harlequins beat Gloucester

By Joe Acklam

30th Nov 2022 | Rugby


"When they got those, we seemed to repel them just enough."- Tabai Matson. Photo: Charlie.
"When they got those, we seemed to repel them just enough."- Tabai Matson. Photo: Charlie.

Tabai Matson said Harlequins defensive work played a huge part in their 21-12 victory over Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership. 

Quins bounced back after a hefty defeat at the hands of Sale the previous week, but have now have three wins in their last four. 

Matson said that his team needed to be strong in this area and certainly delivered in the pressure moments to repel Gloucester. 

Speaking to PRTV, he said: "It was a really hard-earned win, at times they had a lot of momentum and they had us in their crosshairs, but we managed at times to defend really well and not give them too many opportunities inside our 22. 

"When they got those, we seemed to repel them just enough, but I think that score line is a little bit harsh of their half. 

"I thought that has been the toughest game we have had around the breakdown; they were relentless there and probably bested us in that phase. 

"And we knew that because of that it was going to come down to defence and taking a couple of opportunities, which we did. 

"A lot of what I said at half-time was that we just had to get out of our 20, because when we failed at that they put us under immense pressure. 

"So that was the focus, to be really clinical in our own half and defend the first attack really well and see what happens. 

"I don't know if we were as disciplined as we would like to be, but ultimately a team that puts you under that much pressure makes you cough up that many penalties, and they did that really well." 

Danny Care scored two tries to become the Premiership's fourth all-time leading try scorer, with 83, and Matson said there was some surprise over the way he scored one of those tries. 

He said: "I think everyone was [surprised to see him pop up at the back of a rolling maul], the good thing I saw was that Joe Marler was berating him all the way back to halfway for being disgusting and taking the glory that should clearly have been someone over 120 kilos. 

"He can find a way to the try line, and he scored another two, so he just keeps eking up our try scoring record. 

"But we are not focused on Bath away, we fell over to them last year, they were better than us last year. 

"We have a couple of trainings to make sure that we are ready and that we recover from this, this was pretty torrid and we will definitely have some bruised guys rolling in on Monday. 

"We will be getting a clear plan and just trying to keep momentum." 

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