Stephan Lewies Interview: ‘In the past against Saracens, we’ve got the emotional bit wrong’
Lewies says he has been on the wrong end of scorelines against Saracens too many times for his liking
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Clashes between Harlequins and Saracens rarely need any build-up and the passion in Stephan Lewies’ voice embodies that.
“We always say it’s special to wear the Quins jersey once but to be at The Stoop against our biggest rivals, there is nothing really bigger than that for us,” he tells TRU.
For the West London side, they are currently on their longest losing streak against their bitter rivals with eight defeats in a row. Their last win came in January 2020.
Last year, in particular, would have hurt for Quins and Lewies. Saracens beat them 38-10 in their own backyard before hammering Danny Wilson’s men 52-7 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“I’ve been on the wrong side of this fixture a few too many times for my liking,” Lewies adds.
“In the past, we’ve got the emotional bit wrong so playing into the derby, we may have been getting over emotional in the week and by the game, the energy isn’t there.
“We deserve to give our fans a performance at The Stoop. Last year being a Quins fan at those Sarries games was tough.”
And the latest instalment against their fierce rivals looks like an unenviable task.
Despite Saracens waving goodbye to the likes of Owen Farrell in the summer, Mark McCall’s side have started this season with three wins out of three and visit The Stoop at the top of the Premiership tree.
Sarries have made four changes to the team that defeated Exeter Chiefs 29-14 last time out, one of which is the return of Maro Itoje who has brushed off a knee injury to captain his side on Sunday.
“It’s exciting,” Lewies says. “You want to test yourselves against the best. Maro has been up there for years now and is quite a disruptive player and is different from most of the second rows you play against.
“I am excited to be back in front of our home fans. Hopefully they come out loud and put Sarries under some pressure and show what they can do.”
For Lewies, this could be his final appearance against Saracens at The Stoop with the South African’s contract being up at the end of the season.
“I’ve loved every second in a Quins jersey and I have tried to make myself and the fans proud of what I bring to the jersey.”
If this is to be his last year at the club, Lewies - who admitted he stepped down as captain at the start of the season because of the time left on his contract but also to focus on his own game - is confident they will cope in the second-row department, speaking highly once again of George Hammond as well as namechecking 20-year-old Jonny Green.
“He [Green] has got a real edge around him, got his head screwed on as well and you almost need to ask him to tone it down rather than turn it up and that’s always a good sign in a youngster!”
After making three appearances for Wales at the World Rugby U20s Championship in the summer, Quins fans should keep a keen eye on Green who could be waiting in the wings of Lewies.
But for now, Lewies and his Quins teammates will be looking to bring the intensity needed to overhaul Saracens on Sunday.
The return of Joe Marler will certainly add to that. The England prop is fit enough for the bench after recovering from breaking his foot while Marcus Smith is back at fly-half with Leigh Halfpenny returning to 15. Cadan Murley slots onto the wing.
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