Marler confident Harlequins can handle Leicester

Match-winning prop Joe Marler is confident Harlequins have enough big-game experience to “front up” against eight-time finalists Leicester in their Twickenham showdown for the Aviva Premiership title.

Harlequins staged a dramatic late comeback against Northampton to reach their first Premiership final on Saturday, with Marler’s converted try four minutes from time sealing a 25-23 victory while in the other semi-final, Leicester defeated Saracens 24-15.

Last year, Harlequins snatched a similar last-gasp victory over Stade Francais in the Amlin Challenge Cup final and they have beaten both Munster and Toulouse away.

Marler believes Harlequins drew from those experiences after finding themselves eight points down to Northampton with 14 minutes remaining.

And the England prospect believes his team are ready to tackle the Tigers who defeated defending champions Saracens to reach an eighth consecutive Premiership final.

“I am just buzzing for Twickenham now. The final will be massive.” Marler said.

“This pack started against Munster away, it started in the Amlin final. We have played in big games.

“Unfortunately it took Northampton’s try for us to turn around and say: ‘We need to pull our fingers out here’.

“We didn’t panic, based on those results we had before, and we went out and did it.”