As the dust finally settles on Saturday’s thriller at the Stoop, we take a step back and analyse what we saw. Here are five things we learned from Saracens visit to the ‘new look’ Quins.

Care and Brown are evergreen:

For the 250th and 300th appearance respectively for the stalwarts you can see how much pulling the quarter colours on means to them. Care said it best in his post-match interview: “you’re lucky to play one game in the jersey.”

If questions were asked of Brown about his ‘waning’ ability under the high ball, he answered them within two minutes as he plucked a garry-owen out of the blustery west London sky to a rapturous Stoop crowd. His value to this Quins side is immense, and furthermore to England as he showed Mr Jones who was pitch side to see the 33-year-old put in a phenomenal last man rear-guard display.

Then we have Care. This guy is still the beating heart of the side. Taking big hits to huge gasps in the crowd, he never shy’s away from the tackle, and is involved in everything that is good with Paul Gustard’s side. What’s more his acknowledgement of his team’s defensive resilience post-match is humbling as he was at the forefront of that defensive line. A performance topped with an intercept try, (and an over the top celebration), shows the guy still has the top two inches as well as the fleet of foot to evade the tackle. He says he has ‘miles in the tank,’ and everyone in west London and England will hope he’s right.

Quins defence is now starting to click:

They have one of the best defensive coaches as their head coach said Care. Six games in to the campaign, it seems we are finally seeing what he’s bringing to the Stoop.

Yes Saracens crossed the whitewash, but to hold a side who have swept all before them to a single try praise needs to be given.

Sarries were knocking, for long periods in the first and second half, but the intensity and discipline that Gustard’s men showed needs to be applauded.

Yes they were buoyed by fielding possibly their strongest side of the season, and the likes of Sinckler and Horwill in the front eight is huge, but as a unit they are beginning to click.

Marchant can fly:

Try of the season? For all of Danny Cipriani’s mesmerising five point assists this season, this try will surely be a contender for the utterly bizarre, incredible, logic defying, and opportunistic nature of it.

Judge for yourself, it’s worth another look.
 

Sarries are brutal:

In all the positives you’d be forgiven to forget that Saracens won the game.

It’s what they do. They’re a winning machine. Yes, it’s not pretty, but it’s effective.

With Owen Farrell’s laser beam of a boot ticking the scoreboard over, and a bench of ‘Galacticos’ always ready to call upon, it seems winning is a formality these days.

Such a well-oiled outfit, and under Mark McCall I feel he thinks they can improve further.

The Stoop is magical under the lights:

There is something Harry Potter-esque about watching the game at The Stoop at night.

It’s magical. The atmosphere generated by a sell-out crowd raises the hairs on the neck. The rugby wasn’t bad either. Not long to wait until the next night game, Newcaslte Falcons bring their bet on November 16.