Harlequins 20 London Wasps 21

The Guinness Premiership game between Harlequins and London Wasps at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday Dec 27 2009.

The record 76,716 crowd at Twickenham needed more than kitsch and glitz, X-Factor acts and swirling, giant sea eagles to warm their cockles. They wanted quality rugby.

However, rather like the giant bird of prey which lost its bearings and landed in the stands rather than mid-pitch to deliver the ball before kick-off, Harlequins struggled to locate their

A-game until it was far too late. They gifted Wasps a try in the third minute and were on the back foot thereafter. Quins really ought to have got the present-giving out of their system before kick-off.

Harlequins’ last-quarter rally yielded well-deserved tries for the scrum-half Danny Care, looking far more at home at Twickenham for his club than he has done for England, and the wing David Strettle but Wasps, scoring a try of their own in that period through flanker John Hart, had that bit more control, that bit more composure. They also had the colossal figure of Simon Shaw, whom age cannot wither.

There is nothing like an unhelpful guest to spoil a party and Wasps took great delight in playing the role of the ingrate, recording a double over their London rivals. Their joy was tempered by an injury to scrum-half Joe Simpson, a suspected dislocated shoulder, early in the second half and he had to be given oxygen as he was led from the field. Simpson scored Wasps’ first try, taking advantage of a galloping upfield surge from lock George Skivington and a defensive howler from Strettle.

If the rugby was mixed, with splendid bookends to a stodgy middle, the occasion was never less than admirable. In a year in which Harlequins’ name has been dragged through the mud – entirely of their own making it has to be said – this was a venture for which they deserve the utmost praise. Their recent past is bleak, but their prospects look to be in good shape.

In Guinness Premiership terms, Wasps keep up the pressure on Leicester, who are just ahead of them in the all-important play-off position, with a game in hand to boot. They might even have been able to head down the tunnel with nerves less frayed if Dave Walder had been there kicking goals rather than Danny Cipriani.

Walder has kept the celebrity icon out of the side since Cipriani’s recovery from injury, but yesterday Wasps opted to start with Cipriani. His all-court game was in decent order but his goal-kicking was lamentable, the fly-half landing just two from seven attempts. Those 14 points would have allowed Wasps to stretch clear much earlier.

Cipriani gave way to Walder in the 57th minute and the Premiership’s most potent kicker, who has an 80 per cent return this season, made no mistake with his two efforts.

“Danny looked dangerous and Dave did what he does for us, driving us round the pitch, kicking the crucial goals and he had a big part in that last try,” said Wasps head coach Tony Hanks. “They’re both pretty good, eh?”

Hanks said he was confident that the club could keep hold of Cipriani, who has been linked with a move to Stade Français. Reports in France suggest that contact has been made between the respective parties. Wasps, though, are bullish about retaining Cipriani’s services. “Dialogue has reopened and is positive,” said Hanks. “We’ve got a plan in place and know where we’re headed. The key for us is retention of players.”

Cipriani himself appears settled. “I’m happy here and am just focusing on my rugby,” said Cipriani, who signed a

one-year deal last year. “If England come calling, that would be amazing because I would love to be involved.”

He found his rhythm after a dodgy beginning, playing flat and occasionally causing uncertainty. At his best, there is zip in almost every movement. At the moment there are tantalising glimpses, but he will have enjoyed his taste of Twickenham.

Wasps had a decisive nudge in the scrum until Tim Payne departed from the front-row action around the hour mark, at which point Harlequins suddenly shed their inhibitions and gave it a blast. Care had been impish but unable to really threaten without a foundation. He became a prominent figure in that frantic, engaging last quarter, playing with more devil and belief than he had shown here in the autumn for England. He was the catalyst for the Harlequins’ revival.

The crowd, who had been chilled and subdued as Wasps took control, were brought to life. They roared their approval as Quins came right back into contention.

Notably, it was Care’s tapped penalty that created the position from where he was able to burrow through for a try in the 68th minute. The conversion brought Quins back to within one point, only for Hart to round off a quite remarkable length-of-the-field riposte from Wasps.

Strettle’s last-minute try caused momentary twitches, but Wasps deservedly closed out the game.