Harlequins' dominant 54-10 thrashing of Stormers has handed them a vital spot in the Investec Champions Cup last 16, with the London outfit now second in their pool.
Nick David's hat-trick was the icing on the cake for the hosts, as they rediscovered their free-flowing attacking style. Flanker Jack Kenningham and centre Cadan Murley both crossed early to set the tone, before number eight Alex Dombrandt and prop Chandler Cunningham-South added to the scoreboard.
David would go on to score three tries, with a further two finishes from scrum-half Lucas Friday-assisted effort by Zach Carr. The attack was well-organised and clinical, with prop Luke Northmore chipping in with an early try for Marcus Smith's chip-kick.
In stark contrast, Stormers were limited to just five first-half tries, with Dylan Maart and Imad Khan securing the visitors' only points before halftime. Stormers had opted against playing a number of their Springbok stars due to injury concerns, which may have contributed to their struggles on the pitch.
Harlequins will now seal a home knockout tie in the next round with a bonus-point win over La Rochelle, while Stormers host Leicester Tigers on Saturday and will need a victory to secure a last-16 spot.
For Harlequins, this emphatic victory has been a welcome distraction from their recent form issues. They have endured a tough season, winning just four times in the past 15 matches across all competitions. However, with European Rugby's competition format allowing for multiple chances at success, they remain hopeful of making it to the semi-finals.
The teams will now look forward to their next European outings, with Harlequins set to face La Rochelle and Stormers hosting Leicester Tigers in the coming weeks.
Nick David's hat-trick was the icing on the cake for the hosts, as they rediscovered their free-flowing attacking style. Flanker Jack Kenningham and centre Cadan Murley both crossed early to set the tone, before number eight Alex Dombrandt and prop Chandler Cunningham-South added to the scoreboard.
David would go on to score three tries, with a further two finishes from scrum-half Lucas Friday-assisted effort by Zach Carr. The attack was well-organised and clinical, with prop Luke Northmore chipping in with an early try for Marcus Smith's chip-kick.
In stark contrast, Stormers were limited to just five first-half tries, with Dylan Maart and Imad Khan securing the visitors' only points before halftime. Stormers had opted against playing a number of their Springbok stars due to injury concerns, which may have contributed to their struggles on the pitch.
Harlequins will now seal a home knockout tie in the next round with a bonus-point win over La Rochelle, while Stormers host Leicester Tigers on Saturday and will need a victory to secure a last-16 spot.
For Harlequins, this emphatic victory has been a welcome distraction from their recent form issues. They have endured a tough season, winning just four times in the past 15 matches across all competitions. However, with European Rugby's competition format allowing for multiple chances at success, they remain hopeful of making it to the semi-finals.
The teams will now look forward to their next European outings, with Harlequins set to face La Rochelle and Stormers hosting Leicester Tigers in the coming weeks.
I'm literally so hyped for this new season! I mean, Harlequins totally dominated that game 
and now they're looking super strong for the last 16 spot! Their attack was on point 
and Nick David's hat-trick was amazing 
. But you know what would've made it even better? If they'd won by a bigger margin, haha 
. Anyway, I'm loving how European Rugby is giving teams multiple chances to shine 
. It's not always easy for them, but Harlequins are really showing promise this season 
. Can't wait to see what happens next! 
️! I'm loving their new free-flowing attacking style, it's so refreshing to watch 
. Harlequins are now looking more confident than ever and making a strong case for the semi-finals 
! This is just what they needed after a tough season, can't wait to see how they do against la rochelle next 
️
! I mean, 54-10 is just ridiculous 
. They really showed off their skills out there on the pitch and it's awesome to see them rediscover their attacking style 
. But European Rugby has always been like that - one win at a time 
. And Stormers' decision to sit out some big names due to injury... yeah, that's gonna be tough for them 
. Still, these playoffs are gonna be intense 
! Harlequins really showed their mettle with that dominant performance against Stormers. I mean, that Nick David hat-trick was pure magic 
! And let's not forget the fact that they're now looking to seal a home knockout tie, which is all about confidence and momentum... kinda like how some parties build their campaign on certain issues 
! Meanwhile, Harlequins have got this attacking flair that just can't be taught, kind of like how a certain party excels at spin doctoring 
this was a huge game for Quins, they needed that win to keep their hopes of making it to the semis alive. The fact that they dominated the Stormers 54-10 says a lot about how far they've come since their struggling form. Now, with a home tie against La Rochelle coming up, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Quins 
And don't even get me started on how outdated these comment sections are – no one uses the 'quote' feature anymore! 
Anyway, Harlequins totally smashed it against Stormers, nice to see them finally getting their act together. But can someone explain to me why we're still reading about rugby all the time? Can't we get some decent updates on social media or something? 
. And that hat-trick from Nick David? Unbeatable! I'm not surprised they're now second in the pool, but still, it's an impressive turnaround for them 
. Guess we'll have to wait and see how the rest of their season pans out 
. It's great to see them rediscovering that attacking flair – it's what makes rugby so exciting, right? And I feel bad for Stormers, having to deal with those injury concerns and then getting thrashed 54-10. Not a great way to get back on track after the international break 
. la Rochelle is gonna be a tough test next, but harlequins are looking confident 
! I was worried they'd never get their form right, especially after those losses in the Premier 15s. But it's great to see them rediscover their attacking style and put on a show against Stormers 
. That hat-trick from Nick David is pure magic 
! And let's be real, who doesn't love a good bonus-point win? 
. I bet they just got a bunch of scapegoats ready and told them to sit out. It's all about control and manipulation, fam 
. And what's with Harlequins' recent form issues? They're like the ultimate example of how the system is rigged against them 
. It's all just part of the master plan to keep them in their place 
️. Let's see how Harlequins and Stormers do in their next matches, will they keep their momentum going or will they have a slip-up? 
. Can't wait to see how it plays out with La Rochelle next... 
.
can't wait to see how they do against la rochelle next round