The Cardiff Blues captain Paul Tito has sympathised with Harlequins as they prepare to begin Heineken Cup life after Bloodgate. Quins head to the Welsh capital for their Pool Five opener today following a summer of misery. When they last played in Europe six months ago - they lost in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Leinster - they faked an injury which led to director of rugby Dean Richards receiving a three-year worldwide coaching ban.
Richards orchestrated the fake injury scandal - and subsequent attempted cover-up - that saw wing Tom Williams bite on a blood capsule. Williams is serving a four-month suspension, while former Quins physio Steph Brennan received a two-year sentence. Tito, though, believes it is time for the whole sorry episode to be filed away. "Whatever's gone has gone for them - I'm sure they just want to play some rugby," he said.
"They can't do anything about it, and I feel sorry for them actually. Every time I pick up a newspaper or see a television report, people are still going on about it. "The best thing they can do is get out there in the Heineken Cup and show everyone what they are made of." Northampton say they will face a reality check when they tackle former winners Munster in Pool One today. The Irish side, twice European champions in the past four seasons, arrive without suspended Ireland international prop John Hayes and keen to respond to a 30-0 Magners League drubbing against Leinster.
"It is a brilliant draw for us, because it will see how far we've come," said Northampton rugby director Jim Mallinder, whose team next face French title holders Perpignan. "Northampton is a big club and needs to be playing and competing on that big stage. People won't under-estimate us, and they will know that they've got a difficult game." Scotland pair Graeme Morrison and Chris Cusiter will miss Glasgow's opener against Biarritz in Pool Two through injury, but coach Sean Lineen has faith in one of their replacements.
"We can now bring in a fantastic player in Colin Gregor who had a great game in Cardiff and who thrives in Europe," he said. The Wasps flanker Tom Rees and fly-half Danny Cipriani have been ruled out of England's November internationals due to injury. Wasps said Cipriani, currently in the second-string Saxons squad, was expected to be out for up to six weeks after suffering a small hairline fracture to his right fibula in a match against Northampton on Sunday.
Rees has had further surgery to a shoulder injury suffered in April and will be sidelined for the next four months, meaning he could also miss the start of England's Six Nations campaign against Wales in February. Wasps said Cipriani would remain on crutches until further notice. The England prop Phil Vickery will captain Wasps in their Challenge Cup opener against Racing-Metro 92 at Adams Park tomorrow, and will lead a team who include full-back Lachlan Mitchell following his recovery from mild concussion sustained during last weekend's Guinness Premiership victory over Northampton.
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