PWR semi-final preview: Saracens vs Harlequins

Jade Konkel is only too aware that she and her Harlequins teammates might be at a size disadvantage when they take on Saracens in the Premiership Women’s Rugby semi-finals, but the Scotland international would not have it any other way.

Quins will travel to the StoneX Stadium to take on their London rivals after qualifying for the semi-finals for the first time in three years.

They did so thanks to a run of 10 straight wins during the campaign, including away to Sarries, but that streak was ended the last time the two teams met.

Konkel missed that encounter, and the No.8 knows that Quins will have to meet the physical challenge head on if they are to come out on top and reach a first final since they were crowned champions in 2020/21.

She said: “We know Sarries are a physical side and we know they are going to look to bring that physicality to life at the weekend. So it’s how we match that. If you look at us player to player, they probably have a bigger pack. It doesn’t matter how big you are, it’s finding a way to counter that and finding that balance in how we can outplay them in that element.

“I love it, it suits me down to a tee (facing a bigger pack). The fact it is going to be a really physical game suits my kind of game, and makes it that bit more exciting. I like the physicality element and if we can protect Ellie Kildunne at the back, I’m sure she’d appreciate it.”

You've been there every step of the way! 😍

We need to hear you again on Saturday, Quins fans. 🤝#COYQ

— Harlequins Women 🃏 (@HarlequinsWomen) February 26, 2025

In the early years of PWR, or Premier 15s as it was at the time, Sarries and Quins dominated the league, facing off in the first three finals.

With the emergence of Gloucester-Hartpury, Bristol Bears and Exeter Chiefs, that hegemony has been challenged, with Quins missing out on the play-offs for the last two years.

Konkel is thrilled to be back and puts it down to the unity of the group.

She added: “It is such a great group, such a great environment and the fact that everyone has bought into the shared goal, even those players who haven’t gone through the last two years, the disappointment. There is that general buzz, excitement and knowing that we have really earned our place.”

Saracens will host the clash after clinching second spot in the league with a victory over Sale Sharks in their final regular season game.

That was a fifth consecutive victory for the three-time champions, who at one point were under pressure in the race to finish in the top four.

Fly-half Zoe Harrison, who won the first of her league titles as an 18-year-old, explained how the team got back on track.

📔 "𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥."

Jess Breach sits down in this week's Diary Room to discuss the London derby this weekend!#YourSaracens💫

— Saracens Women (@SaracensWomen) February 27, 2025

She said: “There was a period where it was a bit scrappy and we had to work really hard to pull it out of the bag. Credit to the girls, we knew it was crunch time and knew something had to be sorted. The fact we came out on top and finished second in the league just shows what kind of dog mentality we’ve got behind us.

“It was just talking about the Saracens way. It crosses the men’s and the women’s team, it’s a known thing. We lost sight of it a little bit. You just have to mention it once and ask why are you here?

"Players who have come over here knew what it was like to play us and players who have been in all these finals, you know what it took to be there. As soon as that was said, it was kind of a switch. It was the leaders just said it, and people knew it.”

Saracens v Harlequins - StoneX Stadium - 3pm

Match Officials

Referee: Holly Wood

Assistant Referees: Mike Hudson and James Cornell

TMO: Craig Maxwell-Keys

TEAM NEWS

Saracens: 15 Jess Breach, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 13 Emma Hardy, 12 Sophie Bridger, 11 Lotte Sharp, 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Ella Wyrwas; 1 Akina Gondwe, 2 May Campbell, 3 Kelsey Clifford, 4 Rosie Galligan, 5 Louise McMillan, 6 Georgia Evans, 7 Marlie Packer (c), 8 Poppy Cleall

Replacements: 16 Bryony Field, 17 McKinley Hunt, 18 Carmen Tremelling, 19 Bryony Cleall, 20 Gabrielle Senft, 21 Tori Sellors, 22 Sarah McKenna, 23 Sydney Gregson

Harlequins: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Beth Wilcock, 13 Sarah Parry, 12 Lagi Tuima, 11 Claudia Pena, 10 Kayleigh Powell, 9 Emma Swords; 1 Silvia Turani, 2 Connie Powell, 3 Lizzie Hanlon, 4 Tyla Shirley, 5 Danelle Lochner, 6 Sarah Bonar, 7 Abbie Fleming, 8 Jade Konkel (c)

Replacements: 16 Carys Phillips, 17 Jessie Spurrier, 18 Laura Delgado, 19 Harriet Millar-Mills, 20 Babalwa Latsha, 21 Freya Aucken, 22 Lauren Torley, 23 Lisa Neumann

Oval Insights

Saracens

• Gabrielle Senft scored two tries, made 97 metres, and won two turnovers last weekend. Her match rating was a round-high 9.1.
• Zoe Harrison scored as many points as any other player in Round 18, a total of 16. Her success rate off the tee is higher than any of the other top five point-scorers in the league (77.8%).
• Marlie Packer made the joint-most carries last weekend (22) – seven of which were dominant – beat seven defenders, scored a try, and won two turnovers.

Harlequins

• Harriet Millar-Mills made more dominant tackles than any other player last weekend, a total of four.
• Jade Konkel-Roberts has made the second-most dominant carries this season, a total of 61. Her gainline success rate is 60%.
• Ellie Kildunne has made the second-most metres (1,497) and clean breaks (25) this season. She has also scored 13 tries in 12 matches.