There may be a grassroots rebellion soon descending on Twickenham, torches and pitchforks in tow, but here was some festive fun before the bonfire begins. It ended honours even – remarkably the third time this Big Game fixture has been tied when Leicester have been the visitors – thanks to Dan Cole’s last-gasp try and Handré Pollard’s conversion via a post. It seems astonishing that it happened again, having also occurred in 2008 and 2019, and all the more surprising that it was Cole who got the try to force the draw.
It was no less than Leicester deserved, notching the eighth try of the match in what was a welcome nailbiting clash, given all the whitewashes elsewhere this weekend. It was a contest that fizzed along throughout, engrossed from first minute to last, even if it did not quite live up to the pre-match pyrotechnics that Harlequins do so well in this festive fixture. Once more they attracted a sellout crowd, bringing the fireworks to Twickenham for all the right reasons, some light relief from the internecine fighting within the Rugby Football Union, and setting the stage for Marcus Smith to dazzle.
He did so in patches but was matched by Pollard and, truth be told, neither side can argue with a draw. Leicester will wonder quite how they went into the half-time interval behind. They began the better of the sides, Pollard pulling the strings with some shrewd kicking from hand and keeping Harlequins pinned in their own half.
Quins, meanwhile, were sloppy for.