Nick David press conference | Bath v Harlequins

Nick David was on midweek media duties to look ahead to Saturday's Gallagher PREM contest at the Recreation Ground as Quins take on Bath (18th April, KO 17:30).

The backfield operator covered:

• Reflections on five years at Harlequins
• Striving for consistency
• Embracing adversity
• Finding try-scoring form
• Squad ambitions for the rest of the season

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Nick, I was just looking. This is your fifth season with Quince. It's gone by sort of in a flash. I thought it was sort of, you know, maybe three, four at a push, but but a fifth. It's I guess not been the easiest, but give give us an overall feeling of how this campaign's gone.

SPEAKER_04 0:15

Yeah, I mean, you know, you said it yourself. I remember when I first came to you know as a young lad at Worcester Warriors and all the older guys were saying how fast that your career does go. Uh, and the five years uh I've had at Quinn's have has definitely shot by and I've I've thoroughly enjoyed you know every moment um every moment of it. Obviously, this season hasn't gone according to plan, you know, we're not where we want to be. Um, but yeah, and I've thoroughly enjoyed it here at Quinn's.

SPEAKER_03 0:43

Give me a sort of a sense as to what that equates to, you know, being a frustrating season on a day-to-day basis with the players. I mean, it must be hard, but you still got to come in into training and work at it and try and sort out the issues, even if you work out that actually plan A is not working, well, at least you've crossed that one off and you can then go on to the next one.

SPEAKER_04 1:06

Yeah, you've got you know, in this sport, you've got to move on quickly, you know, win, lose, or draw. You come in on a Monday, review whatever on the weekend, uh, the game, and as I say, you just got to get back on the horse and keep showing up. Um, I think the biggest thing for us has been consistency of performance, something which we've probably lacked this season. We'd have one good game one weekend and then we'd see a drop-off the following week. And you know, emotionally it's not the easiest thing, you know, it's because there's lots of ups and downs. So I think the biggest thing is is taking your learnings from the weekend and making sure that you implement those for the coming match.

SPEAKER_03 1:40

Would Bristol then sale be the perfect description of exactly what you're talking about?

SPEAKER_04 1:44

Yeah, exactly. You know, coming off the high of the Bristol win, um, and then just how deflated everyone was after that sale game. We know we probably you know let ourselves down, let our friends and family down. Um, and that's something that when we come back in on a Monday, we do really feel. Uh, I know everyone was hurting after that result, um, and we're, you know, we're looking at ways to rectify that.

SPEAKER_03 2:06

This is gonna sound like a horrendous question, and I promise you, it's not meant like that. But your time at Worcester, you obviously weren't at the top end pushing the trophies. But what's it like as a professional sportsman when you probably lose more games than you win? How hard is it to actually motivate yourself? You know, and actually, what do you find out about yourself when you're going through those tough times?

SPEAKER_04 2:30

Well, I think like I said, I think the tough times is what define you. It's easy to be, you know, in a positive monkey-dory sort of mindset when you know things are going well. Um, so it's the ability to, as I say, get back on the horse, keep showing up when your backs are against the wall, and you can kind of get a feel for how tightly knit a group is with how much they stick together when results aren't going our way. And I think that despite, as I say, results, not all the results going our way this season, one thing that I think we can hold our hand on is the fact that we have remained tight as a group and will continue to strive to do that.

SPEAKER_03 3:03

Let's be more positive. Um, round one, it was a defeat against Bath, but actually, you put a good amount of points on them. Last season, when you went down there, you put a good amount of points on them again. There's building blocks there, isn't it? You know, it's not like everything's absolutely horrendous.

SPEAKER_04 3:19

You know, you look back to that first round game, we were actually not just that game, but the following game at Leicester Targets, we were winning both of those games at half time. So, you know, we looked, you know, we had a long hard look at at why you know we lost those games, but it certainly you know gives us confidence that you know we can go out and we can score tries. Um, it's just making sure we get you know sort of the bedrock, bedrock of our game, you know, nailed down and things like our discipline, something which we slacked on against Sale a couple of weeks ago, which gives, you know, these gives these good teams field position. Um so yeah, that's something we're gonna be looking forward to this weekend.

SPEAKER_03 3:52

Just looking at your remaining fixtures, in amongst it, you've got obviously Bath this weekend, Exeter, Saracens, and Saints. Now, look, you obviously want to win them for your own reasons, but you could potentially have a big effect on other people's seasons. Is that a goal? You know, do you want to be an agitator of a club?

SPEAKER_04 4:12

It's something we've definitely spoken about, something you know, we're striving these last these last six games that we have. We're we're viewing it as you know, we're not gonna be just going through the motions because we know we're not gonna make top four. We know we're very aware that there's you know, to play European Cup rugby, which is always a goal here at Quinn's, is to make the top eight. So that's something in the back of our minds. Um, and as I say, the building blocks for next season, um, which I know all the boys will buy into.

SPEAKER_03 4:38

Just one final one for me. I don't know if this is right, but I was just looking at it earlier. Your last premiership try, do you know when it was?

SPEAKER_04 4:46

Last premiership try. Um I think it's been it's been a fair while to be honest with you. It might not even be it might not even be this season.

SPEAKER_03 4:55

Well, if I'm wrong, I'm not sure. It's January 2024 against Leicester.

SPEAKER_04 5:01

Really? Wow, I didn't realise. Now that you say it out loud, that sounds quite bad. Um, I guess I yeah, I mean that's yeah, that's a long time. So I'm it's something I'm you know, I want to get back on the score sheet. I mean, every winger does. Um, so yeah, something I'm looking forward to hopefully putting right soon.

SPEAKER_03 5:18

It's I mean, there's no equivalent. I mean, football they always talk about a striker needs one to go in off the backside. There isn't an equivalent in rugby. No, you just have to keep working hard and get yourself in the right position.

SPEAKER_04 5:27

Yeah, exactly. Get yourself in the right positions often comes off the hard work of lads inside you. Um, so yeah, that's something that I'm as I say looking to put right soon.

SPEAKER_03 5:36

I will give you a bit of a blow up. You have got four tries in the Champions Cup since then, though, so it's not a dread.

SPEAKER_04 5:42

Okay, happy days then. Thank you, Nick. Cheers, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 5:46

Andy, do you want to lead off? Yeah, hi Nick. Um, just wanted to uh ask about uh Joe Launchbury. Um obviously I I won't uh use this until we're allowed to, but just wanted to get your take on what he's been like as a as a teammate and as a club man.

SPEAKER_04 6:03

Yeah, he's um I I get on really well with Joe. Um you know, he's a great laugh off the field, he's um he's an ultimate professional, um, he's a great leader. Um and I've yeah, I've really enjoyed you know working with him and and and hanging out with him these last few years. So yeah, um he's been it's been a privilege to to share the field, not only in training, but in games with him. So yeah, I've really enjoyed it.

SPEAKER_00 6:29

And uh we talked a bit a little bit about Bath there. I mean, obviously they they are playing brilliantly, the reigning champions into the semi-finals of the Champions Cup. Obviously, they'll have a massive feel-good factor there and they'll kind of expect to win. How do you I mean you've done it before as a team many times? I mean, how do you find a way to kind of uh upset the Apple cart and just stop it becoming a sort of you know something that they expect?

SPEAKER_04 6:57

As I say, as a team, you know, we're aware that we're with the underdogs going into this weekend, but we relish the challenge. A few weeks ago it was the same going going to Cardiff against Bristol, and we and we saw what happened there. So we're aware that you know Bath playing some brilliant rugby at the minute, so we've got to make sure that 1 to 23 uh are all ready to turn up and do their job.

SPEAKER_00 7:17

And in that Bristol game, it was a little bit different. Um, the approach to what we've been kind of used to, I suppose, over the long haul. I mean, but were there some parts of that that you were kind of like, well, it's great that we dug in in that way?

SPEAKER_04 7:31

Yeah, I think what was really pleasing about that Bristol game was, you know, we're all aware how Bristol want to play uh from anywhere. You kind of got to be alert no matter where you're on the field, and the way our defence, you know, dug deep and scrambled was was really pleasing. Um, so that's something which again we'll we'll look to bring to the forefront this weekend against Bath.

SPEAKER_01 7:51

Thanks, Nick. Good luck.

SPEAKER_04 7:52

Cheers.

SPEAKER_01 7:54

Hey Nick, it's uh Nick Mullins from TNT. Nice to see you again.

SPEAKER_04 7:58

Nice to see you.

SPEAKER_01 7:58

Thank you for your time. Um we we've just been talking to Jason about this final block of six games and pushing it into next season and how he will talk to to some of you about what you want. What what what do you want? If he if he came to you and said, what do we what do we need to do next season, Nick? What what what are the thoughts that you might have on that?

SPEAKER_04 8:19

So my thoughts uh first and foremost is ensuring that we're not going through the motions of these next six games and that we're viewing it as, as I say, opportunity to play Champions Cup rugby uh next year, which I think historically Quinn's have always done pretty well in. Um I think for me, uh building towards next season as well is it's it's to do with our consistency of performance. Um, you know, we can't be playing well one week and then dropping off the following week. Um so it's our consistency, you know, in how we play, because that built ultimately that builds confidence as well. If you can if you can win two, three games on the bounce, um, it really you know it increases positivity uh around the environment, which is which is essential. Um, so that's the biggest thing for me would be around our consistency of performance. We we've only had you know, on two or three occasions this year had back-to-back wins. So that's something we're also striving for in this last this last six-game block.

SPEAKER_01 9:15

Where do you get that consistency from? I mean it's an age-old question, isn't it? But how do you how do you put your finger on that?

SPEAKER_04 9:20

Yeah, I think it it sort of starts starts with training. Um, I think you sort of play like you train, so making sure that you know we're we're you know disciplined with each other, you know, we have those hard conversations if they need to be had around errors, if we're making line breaks, ensuring that we've got the composure to convert them. That's probably another aspect of our game where we feel like we are creating opportunities, it's just that last killer pass. I feel like we're at times potentially letting the opposition off the hook. Um that's something as well that we need to need to look to improve on.

SPEAKER_01 9:52

Where where, if you were playing to par, would Quinn's finish in the Prem at the moment?

SPEAKER_04 9:58

Where would they finish in the Prem? Um How good do you?

SPEAKER_01 10:01

I mean, I guess I guess the question is how good do you think you are? Because clearly I assume that you don't think the current Prem position represents who you are as a as a bunch of players.

SPEAKER_04 10:10

I guess I can't comment on that. Uh what I would say is that for the next six games, we're we're just gonna do, we're gonna strive to do as well as we possibly can, and we'll finish wherever we finish. We know if we can go, if we can win as many games as possible in this last six games, we'll be in the position to, as I say, play Champions Cup rugby, which which next year, which is a challenge, and will ultimately put us in better stead come uh come preseason.

SPEAKER_01 10:36

Sorry, I know I'm asking you a series of quite difficult to answer questions here. Sorry. But in your in your mind next season, when you're playing the rugby that you want to play, what does that look like? Forwards, backs, and everything in between?

SPEAKER_04 10:50

Ultimately, you know the bedrock of your game has got to be solid. Um, so your set piece, scrum line out, uh kicking game's got to be good. Um, and then you know, what we thrive on, and and our historic the Quinn's DNA has been sort of orientated around our attack, uh, scoring tries. Uh, but I think something which has massively improved this last couple of years is is our defence, and we've got Jason Gilmore to thank for that. Um, so that's what you know, going looking towards next season, as you've just mentioned, is is being positive with our attack, being confident, making sure that we're composed when we make, as I say, make line breaks and we're in positions to score, that we are we are converting. Because I think when you look at some of the top teams in the premiership currently, they're you know, they're they're clinical in those areas um and their conversion rates are are are really really high.

SPEAKER_01 11:44

Great. Thanks, Nick. Look forward to uh watching again this weekend.

SPEAKER_04 11:46

Cheers, Nick.

SPEAKER_02 11:50

Hi Nick.

SPEAKER_04 11:51

Hi, Paul.

SPEAKER_02 11:52

Um signing a George for Furbank. I mean not obviously you know, England is a national Northampton cabinet. Does that does that sort of uh acquisition you help improve standards of the club by by increasing competition? I mean, you know, you played fullback Tyrone Spider, dump done well, George coming in, you're not gonna throw out a welcome mat and say the place is yours. Does it you know more signings like that for the club?

SPEAKER_04 12:15

Yeah, I couldn't agree more. I think it drives healthy competition, uh, which ultimately drives growth in the team and sort of prevents anyone or the danger of anyone becoming comfortable. Um, you know, he's got a wealth of experience, George, not only you know, at club level with Saints, but also on the international stage. So I'm looking forward to sort of working with him and learning and asking questions.

SPEAKER_02 12:38

Yeah, because it's um you know, speaking to Jason about that. I mean, given you're sort of midfield at the moment, you could almost be like a is a 15 a second fight to Marcus, a second playmaker.

SPEAKER_04 12:50

Yeah, exactly. Um, you know, I've spoken to Jason before, you know, a lot of you see it, you see it not only in England, but a lot of you know worldwide, you see a lot of fullbacks who can step up and play 10 and be that be that second ball distributor. Um, so yeah, as I say, I'm looking forward to sort of picking his brains and and learning what I can.

SPEAKER_02 13:08

Yeah, I suppose it's you know, given given the season you've had, it's also Philip that you know a player like that coming from a clever the the other end of the table, um, you know, see something in Quinn's to to make him join.

SPEAKER_04 13:22

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Um, I mean, I think um I saw some of his interviews when when when he'd signed was was around, he's aware of the you know, sort of the historically the DNA of Quinn's is is sort of attack orientated and and and and scoring tries against teams, and and I think yeah, he know like he won he wants to be a part of that.

SPEAKER_02 13:44

Yeah, and lastly for me, um you know, with um sort of Rob Robbie Dean's coming on board, obviously Rob Hunter coming in and as forwards goes with with Jason. You're happy with the with the setup for next season, Nick, Nick, to pull your way up the table.

SPEAKER_04 14:00

Yeah, I'm like I said, I'm looking forward to you know working with with these with these new coaches uh next year. Um, you know, it's nice to have you know sort of fresh ideas uh in the building. Um so I'm looking forward to to working working with them, but the job at hand is is to, as I say, do as well as we can uh in these next six games for the remainder of the season to ensure our Champions Cup qualification for next year.