Marcus Smith is looking forward to a huge showdown as English teams face off in the Champions Cup.
Harlequins are gearing up to take on Sale Sharks for a spot in the Champions Cup quarter-finals, with Marcus Smith expected to shine. Both teams see this as their best chance to win some silverware this season since their Premiership hopes are pretty much over—they’re unlikely to make the playoffs.
So far, Quins and Sale have both won three league games, sitting seventh and ninth. They’re keen to finish in the top eight to secure Champions Cup rugby next season. Their fans will be hopeful, especially after Quins’ great win over Bristol Bears last weekend. But Smith wants the team to take the rest of the season one step at a time.
He said, “It’s not been the season we wanted in the Premiership so far; we’re hoping to finish on a high.” Smith has been a key player in their European matches, particularly shining in the win against two-time champions La Rochelle in France.
This weekend, Smith and his teammates will be aiming for another strong performance to move forward and give their fans a big reason to smile, as they prepare to face either Leinster or Edinburgh next.
Smith is ready to lead the team at the Twickenham Stoop this Saturday against Sale. As a British and Irish Lion, he shared, “We’re really proud of our Champions Cup form. We always show a lot of respect for the competition, and it’s a real privilege to have a big knockout game at home for our fans.
“Fingers crossed we can give them the result they deserve. It’s not been easy, but these are the moments you want to be part of. We’re all really excited.”
Marcus Smith talks to SPORTbible thanks to Optimum Nutrition, the UK’s No.1 Sports Nutrition brand: www.optimumnutrition.com/en-gb