Harlequins v Montpellier, Grand Stade de Lyon, Friday, 8.0 (BT Sports Europe, Sky Sports 1)
Harlequins started the build-up to Friday’s European Challenge Cup final aiming to lift the trophy for “second dad” Conor O’Shea, but will arrive in Lyon paying tribute to prop Seb Adeniran-Olule, who was killed this week in a car crash.
Captain Danny Care hailed departing rugby director O’Shea’s paternal influence on the Twickenham outfit, but that motivation doubtless fades after the young prop’s untimely passing. A minute’s silence will be held in memory of Adeniran-Olule before kick-off in Quins’ European final clash with Montpellier in Lyon on Friday night.
The Harlequins squad will wear black armbands to honour a 20-year-old loosehead. O’Shea’s fatherly instincts will doubtless have come to the fore after the shock loss of Adeniran-Olule, and skipper Care hailed the former Ireland fullback, who will take charge of Quins one last time before joining Italy.
“Conor came in at an incredibly tough time, the club was probably at an all-time low, and he came in and a few people probably questioned why he was coming into the club,” said Care of O’Shea, who joined Harlequins after the Bloodgate scandal that saw Dean Richards depart.
“He’s been brilliant for the club, a lot of players have developed through him, and gone on to reach international honours. He’s always got a smile on his face so the club’s definitely going to miss that.
“It’s his honesty that makes him such a great coach, and he’s the most positive person you’ll ever meet. He doesn’t react too quickly to adversity, he’s a clever bloke, he sees the bigger picture.
Extra mile
“He’s been like a second dad for a lot of us, he’s looked after us and guided us. He’ll always go the extra mile, that’s the type of bloke he is.”
Harlequins are back to full strength following last weekend’s 62-24 home Premiership thumping at the hands of rampant Exeter. Prop Joe Marler returns as expected after his two-week ban for kicking Grenoble hooker Arnaud Heguy in the head, while Montpellier boast South Africa internationals Frans Steyn and Pierre Spies in a bruising line-up. “It’s going to be as ferocious as a Test match,” said Care. “We’ve got to match fire with fire.”
HARLEQUINS: M Brow; M Yarde, G Lowe, J Roberts, T Visser; N Evans, D Care (capt); J Marler, J Gray, A Jones, J Horwill, S Twomey, C Robshaw, L Wallace, N Easter. Replacements: D Ward, M Lambert, K Sinckler, M Luamanu, J Clifford, K Dickson, B Botica, R Chisholm.
MONTPELLIER: B Fall; T Nagusa, A Tuitavake, F Steyn, M O'Connor; D Catrakilis, N White; M Nariashvili, B du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Jacques du Plessis, P Willemse, F Ouedraogo (capt), A Qera, P Spies. Replacements: M Ivaldi, Y Watremez, D Kubriashvili, S Timani, K Galletier, B Paillaugue, R Ebersohn, J Mogg.
