Quins have strength for their spine-tingling test, says Dombrandt

ALEX DOMBRANDT believes Harlequins’ instinctive spine has enough backbone to topple the Stormers in Cape Town tomorrow.

Harlequins will bid to make club history and reach the Champions Cup quarter-finals with a win in South Africa.

Quins No8 Dombrandt (right) said: “It’s win or go home, we have a chance to take Harlequins further into this competition than ever before, and it’s not one we want to turn down.

“I love playing with this team and playing the way we want to play. You talk about the spine of the team, and it’s fantastic to play with Danny Care at nine, Marcus Smith at 10 and Andre Esterhuizen at 12. We are all massively in synch I believe. I know what they are going to do instinctively, and I think the same is true for the others as well.

“If we get on a roll then we can make some things happen. It’s a huge game, and a hugely difficult game too, but we are excited. “We’ve talked about this week being a case of when we’re on, we’re on, and when we’re off, we’re off. “That means being totally focused on the challenge, but outside of that, relaxing and enjoying this great city.

“We had a day off and played some golf, and enjoyed an amazing sushi meal. Doing those sorts of things as a group really helps.”