Harlequins head coach Tabai Matson believes it is down to the coaching staff to remedy his side’s recent mistakes as they prepare to face fellow high-flyers Sale Sharks on Sunday. 

Quins saw in 2023 in disappointing fashion, thumped 46-17 at Northampton Saints on New Year’s Day, and are hoping to bounce back against a side they beat Sale 29-13 in October’s reverse fixture.

Victory would complete a first Premiership double over Sharks since the 2013/14 season and Matson has been focused on how he and his coaching staff can turn things around following their dismal defeat at Franklin’s Gardens. 

"You have to look at yourself first and that's always the first question you ask yourself after every performance," he said. 

"For us, we looked like a team that had played five days earlier and they looked like a team that was ready to go. 

"It's important that we as coaches take the next steps to remedy that. 

"We've got a really proactive leadership group and they will always come forward and ask whether we can change something up and we're really responsive to that. 

"We took a beating and if you don't get your house in order someone else will give you a beating. 

"We're halfway through the season and it's already been a very complicated season with the Big Game and our Barbarians game so for us, freshening up is not an issue." 

Sale will head to The Stoop following a 40-5 victory over reigning champions Leicester Tigers last week, while Matson leads a depleted team due to injury and bans. 

The head coach confirmed that the likes of Marcus Smith and Will Evans will not be available for the match day squad but are well on the road to recovery. 

And with Joe Marler also back in the headlines following his six week ban for comments made against Bristol Bears, Matson repeated his call for further clarity from the RFU on sledging in matches. 

He said: "My biggest concern is that Joe isn't made a scapegoat, he was out of line and has been reprimanded for it but there should be something from above saying that this type of language isn't appropriate. 

"Otherwise, we get degrading as to whether it's sledging or banter. 

"But that does take time and I'm sure people are having discussions and trying to work out what is clear. 

"My other concern is the refs, you don't want them having to referee whether something is banter or not. 

"Any mandate put down will be better than where we currently are now and we have awesome referees, we just don't want to make their lives harder."