Quins coach won't panic despite their awful start

The Galway Sportsground on a wet Friday night is the kind of sporting arena uniquely suited to the playing skills of Dean Richards.

Despite his shambling gait and socks-around-the-ankles appearance, the sight of Richards leading out his team would worry the most battle-hardened Irish prop waiting to welcome the English in the traditional rugby manner.

Unfortunately for Harlequins, the nearest Richards will come to the pitch tonight is the dugout during the European Challenge Cup battle with Connacht.

The former England and Leicester icon is now director of rugby at Harlequins, who have suffered a nightmare start to the season - second from bottom in the Guinness Premiership and without a win in any of their seven league and cup games.

Guiding Quins back into the top flight last season demanded different skills from Richards and now he must fashion a win to bolster flagging confidence before a bad run becomes a real crisis. Richards, however, is refusing to panic.

"Without doubt this will be seen as a Dean Richards thing but there are bigger names than me involved in the sport," he said.

"I know the territory and when we didn't win something it wasn't the players or the coaches at Leicester who got sacked, it was me the manager.

"I understand the pressures and the responsibilities. If, in four or five weeks, we are still looking for a first win then I will be concerned but I don't see that being the case.

"Nothing has shaken my belief in the players. In this current situation, I am drawing on my own experiences and the pool of knowledge at Harlequins - the coaches, the management and Mark Evans, the chief executive. Getting that first win under our belts will make a massive difference to us."

Although European rugby is on the agenda for Quins tonight, their fans are looking towards 17 November. For that is when Worcester, the only club below Quins in the Premiership, visit The Stoop.

However, Richards said: "There is a lot of rugby to be played before we face Worcester and it is wrong to look that far ahead. Things could be very different by then."

Meanwhile, London Irish will give fitness tests to Riki Flutey and Kieran Roche before facing Llanelli Scarlets in the Heineken Cup tonight.

Barry Everitt is set to replace outside-half Flutey, while Gary Johnson is the second row alternative for Roche.

London Wasps will look to French hooker Raphael Ibanez to set the tone in the Cup clash with Castres at Adams Park on Sunday.

With a match at Perpignan six days later, Wasps have to make a winning start if they hope to get out of the pool stages for the first time in three seasons.

Saracens tackle Glasgow Warriors in the Challenge Cup at Watford on Sunday with the main focus on what role Andy Farrell will play.