‘They celebrate a scrum penaltly like a try’ – Harlequins legend raring to go up against ‘confrontational’ French

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Harlequins legend Will Collier is raring to front up against Toulouse, hailing the French mentality when it comes to scrummaging.

Quins go in search of a maiden Investec Champions Cup final appearance as they go toe-to-toe with five-time champions Toulouse on Sunday.

The French outfit have named a Test-ladened forward pack with an all-Les Bleus international starting front-row to take on Harlequins.

“They love” scrums

Meanwhile, Collier starts alongside rising loosehead star Fin Baxter and England hooker Jack Walker and ahead of the clash, he spoke glowingly about France’s love for the scrums.

“If ever you watch highlights of French club rugby, they often show the scrums, which is unheard of over here,” the experienced front-rower said.

“They love it. Who is going to push each other backwards, in simplest layman’s terms?

“We have got a plan specific to them that hopefully we can implement. We have done a lot of work on it this week, as I am sure you can imagine.

“You see the passion they have and the way they celebrate scrums as a physical confrontation with their biggest men on the pitch going at it.

“When they get a scrum penalty they celebrate it like a try. It’s amazing.

“Knowing we are going to have to take that away from them to some capacity and more so put our game on them in the scrum is everything.”

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Relishing the challenge

Collier is amongst the most destructive tightheads in the Premiership, although he is yet to add to his two England caps seven years ago against Argentina.

Having made over 200 appearances so far for Harlequins, Collier says that this game against Toulouse is one of the most exciting yet as history awaits the club.

“I have done these big games a few times, but in the back of my mind this is probably the most exciting game I have played in a Quins shirt,” he added.

“To be where we are in Europe is huge for the club. I think we have slightly gone under the radar, just quietly gone about it, put in these big performances, got some big results and suddenly we are here in probably the biggest game in the club’s history.”

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Turning the tables

Despite the excitement, Collier and his teammates are under no allusion to the challenge that awaits them with Toulouse claiming a 47-19 win at Twickenham Stoop when the two side’s last faced off.

“They drilled us at home,” Collier added.

“That was one that stuck with us, the way they played and dominated. They took some of our real strengths away.

“It is definitely sitting with us that they came to our patch and did that, and that the challenge we are facing this weekend is probably going to be bigger.

“The boys who played in that game, in the back of their minds will kind of know what’s coming.

“Their second-half surge was immense. They were awesome. They are the envy of most people in Europe, the trophies they’ve won, and we are under no illusion as to the challenge.”