Heineken Cup roundup:Harlequins' Heineken Cup hopes are hanging by a thread but head coach John Kingston has not given up on securing quarter-final status.
Quins, whose European campaign last season was scarred by the ‘Bloodgate’ fake injury scandal, have collected just one point from two games in Pool Five.
Their second successive defeat — a 23-19 home loss to three-time European champions Toulouse — means progress from the group stages looks unlikely.
Kingston said: “There is no question our situation in the Heineken Cup now is very difficult. But if we can do the business home and away to Sale (in December) and beat Cardiff Blues at home, then who can tell what will happen with the other results.”
Quins led 14-0 at half-time, but despite England and Lions wing Ugo Monye’s try double, Toulouse recovered as touchdowns from Yves Donguy and Shaun Sowerby underpinned a priceless away win.
“Nobody would have complained if Harlequins had won that game,” added Kingston. “But there is a very, very narrow line between success and failure at this level.
“That was far and away the finest rugby we’ve played this season, so we are frustrated.”
While Quins took Toulouse to the wire, Gloucester suffered their heaviest Heineken Cup away defeat against French opposition as Biarritz blitzed them 42-15 at Parc des Sports Aguilera.
Although Gloucester are not out of Pool Two contention, the west country club now cannot afford another defeat, and they still have to visit Glasgow and Newport Gwent Dragons.
London Irish’s hard work in beating Heineken Cup holders Leinster away from home nine days ago unravelled through a shock 27-25 home defeat against the Scarlets.
Lions fly-half Stephen Jones kicked 17 points to leave the Scarlets in control of Pool Six, and Irish boss Toby Booth admitted: “We were taught a lesson in certain areas of the pitch.
“That game contained more mistakes by us than in eight months last season.”
Scarlets chief Nigel Davies turned on his team’s critics, claiming: “The fact we’ve been written off has been a motivating factor for us. When I’ve looked at some of the (television) programmes and what has been written in the media, I’ve seen that we have barely been mentioned.”
Leicester maintained promising momentum in Pool Three, beating Italian hosts Viadana 46-11 and securing a bonus point following a seven-try display that included three for full-back Scott Hamilton.
“It was frustrating and disjointed at times, but we took our tries really well,” said Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill. “We have found from experience in Italy that you have to be patient, go through the phases and take your opportunities.”
