Stephan Lewies claims Harlequins “know where we went wrong” last season and is confident they can snatch the Premiership title back from Leicester.
The South African is also hoping for better luck in regards to his own fitness and be able to play a more consistent part on the field when the new campaign starts in just 19 days’ time.
It took a while for Lewies and his team-mates to get over the “frustrating” semi-final loss at London rivals Saracens having got within touching distance of a second successive Twickenham appearance.
However, the disappointment and despair has been replaced by a strong desire to make amends and bounce back in style. Tabai Matson’s men also aim to prove to any cynics that they can balance their carefree, “all court” rugby style with a steely defence and similar mental resolve.
Lewies says: “We have to move on from the disappointment of losing to Sarries, and get back to the same level we produced when we won the title the season before. The only way we can do that is to get back out onto the field and be better and more consistent in our performances and results.
“We know where we went wrong. We know the mistakes we made which cost us getting to another Twickenham final. It just showed we are all human and we must learn from the bad experiences as well as enjoy the good ones. I am confident we will grow from what happened in the semi-final just as we did from lifting the trophy the year before. We will iron over those mistakes to make sure we get over the line this time.”
Lewies refutes any suggestion the weight on the shoulders of him and his Quins team-mates will be considerably less due to the fact they start their campaign at Newcastle Falcons without the “champions” tag.
The flanker says: “On the contrary, the pressure will be a little more because of the fact we failed to make the final last time and did not reach our full potential. The only pressure is what you put on yourselves to reach the highest level possible and to be as successful as you can. So the minimum expectation now is that we make the play-offs and then get to the final to give us the best opportunity of winning the trophy.
“A quick start is important but the first few fixtures are not the end of the world if you don’t get off to a flyer. It’s important to start well but then build gradually and improve as the season progresses in order to peak later on when the really big games come along.”
Quins have filled the gaps in the second row left by Hugh Tizard’s departure to Saracens and the retirement of Matt Symons by adding South African Irne Herbst and resigning Charlie Matthews following his stint in Japan.
Lewies, 30, is hoping his body will stay fit, strong and healthy for a lot longer in the coming months having struggled with injury and infection last season. He admits: “It was definitely the most difficult one of my career, staving off the infection I had which I basically played with for the whole season. When you are like that your mind wants to do things your body is not capable of doing on the field.
“So right now, it is great to feel normal again. The drive for me is to try and get back to my best and enjoy doing what I love most which is playing rugby.”
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