KEY POINTS:
In a PR stunt Nick Evans took a lie-detector test, although the nature of the questions was not exactly designed to land him in Alcatraz. Will Harlequins beat Saracens? Can Quins win the Guinness Premiership? Do you respect Dean Richards as director of rugby? And so on.
Not surprisingly, Evans answered yes to everything, but he got one thing right. Quins defeated Sarries 24-21 in the opener, and the former New Zealand stand-off had a most memorable debut.
Evans contributed 11 points and was looking very good indeed when Sod's Law kicked in with a vengeance. After 65 minutes he took a heavy tackle, damaged a ligament in his right knee and Quins' most valuable import was the subject of urgent medical attention.
"I was really enjoying it," he said. "Playing in front of 50,000 at Twickenham in a double-header was an awesome experience. I was playing well and the boys were great. I got hit by some big forward and tweaked a ligament. Back home I studied physiotherapy, so I knew something was up."
Evans, who is on a pretty penny at The Stoop, will be out of action for about five weeks, but the good news is that he does not need an operation. If he is downhearted, he does not show it.
"I'm pretty good, mate. I'm battling along." Who tackled you? "I couldn't tell you, mate. It's not a major, major injury. It's an occupational hazard."
Evans, who could have gone to a club in France, or to Leicester, opted for Quins after talking to Richards on the phone. He also consulted Andrew Mehrtens, another All Black stand-off who spent a couple of seasons at The Stoop.
"He told me all about the structure of the Premiership and the Heineken Cup, and about Quins. They're a club with ambition and I like their style of play. It sounded like a perfect match. I wanted to play competitive rugby in the UK. I've been around a lot. It was a pretty easy decision to make."
It was and it wasn't. In probably any other country Evans would have been the number one No 10, but the All Blacks have Daniel Carter.
Evans, who is 27, has been playing in the Super 14 with the Highlanders and the Blues. A former junior All Black, he made his New Zealand debut against England in Dunedin in 2004 and has been limited to 16 caps, scoring 103 points.
"The hard part was deciding to leave New Zealand. I love my country and I loved my rugby over there. It was a dream to pull on the All Black jersey and it's not something you give up lightly. I'm really proud of what I've achieved with the All Blacks."
Evans seems resigned to the fact that by committing himself to Quins for at least three years his test career is finished. The World Cup in New Zealand in 2011? He's not holding his breath.
"The main rule is that you've got to be contracted in New Zealand to qualify for selection. I've come over here to play the best footie I can. I've got a good few years left in me yet, and unless they change the rules I'll be playing in London."
But the NZRFU have changed the rules, at least for Carter, who is being allowed to join Perpignan on a very lucrative short-term contract while still being attached to his home union. When he returns home he will resume his test career. They are calling it a sabbatical.
"They've opened a can of worms there, mate," Evans said.
"A lot of players now want some of that. It wasn't for me. I've made a full commitment to my new club and I didn't want to have them worrying about me scuttling back to New Zealand."
He has not had the best of luck so far. In that epic World Cup quarterfinal against France in Cardiff last year the All Blacks gambled on Carter, who had a dodgy ankle, and Evans came off the bench with 20 minutes remaining.
"I was really excited at the thought of steering the ship home. It was a pressure cooker, but you don't play at this level unless you can handle it."
What happened next? Evans tore a hamstring. "I was absolutely devastated," he said.
"You can't influence anything. The rest is history. It's one of those things, mate. That's sport."
Evans's right knee is in a brace and he is in rehab, but he is still mobile. With a pad in Wimbledon, within a lob or two of the tennis courts, he has been supplied with an Alfa Romeo Spider and has been catching up with friends and relatives in Putney and Fulham.
"It's a great place because there's always stuff happening. Also you're only a hop, skip and jump away from Europe. There's a good social side at Quins and they're a really great group of guys. I'll be around the team, helping out.
"We can be a top-quality side. It's a long season, not like back in New Zealand. The injury could be a blessing in disguise. I'd rather it happened now than at the business end of the season when a lot could be happening."
Evans, who was born in Auckland, is in daily contact with his family back home. His younger brother Andrew he describes as a "beach bum"; his father, John, has retired as a fish exporter.
Nick's nickname is Snapper: "I love fishing, I just love it." Quins will have to find him a pond at Wimbledon.
- INDEPENDENT
