Serious work for Mehrtens in the UK

Andrew Mehrtens. Picture / Mark Mitchell

It's a good job that Andrew Mehrtens is used to the burden of expectation as he will carry plenty of it when he arrives in London next month.

The 4000 season-ticket holders at Mehrtens' new club, Harlequins, are pinning great hopes on the All Black legend. As is his likely Quins midfield partner, the Lions second-five Will Greenwood.

"The fly-halves (first five-eighths) that excite me are Jonny Wilkinson, Stephen Jones, Carlos Spencer and Daniel Carter," said Greenwood. "But I would put Andrew Mehrtens at the head of that bunch. I know he is renowned for his kicking and his ability to control a game but I think he is one of the great runners and passers. He's one of the best at bringing his backline into the game.

"The thought of playing alongside him is hugely exciting. He is an All Black legend and has done brilliant things for Canterbury. Having him at Quins is a statement of just how ambitious the club is. It says that we are determined to put last season behind us and get back up into the Premiership.

"I am sure Andrew would have preferred to be joining a club in the top flight but from what I have seen and heard he is the right kind of guy to help Quins get straight out of National Division One."

Greenwood, who is as honest and likeable as they come, wanted to show some solidarity with his soon-to-be-team-mate and get along to Jade Stadium last Wednesday.

He decided against it in the end, fearing that the last thing Mehrtens wanted to see on his big day was "a bloody Englishman".

Greenwood hopes to have a word before he sets off back to Blighty. If he doesn't manage it, he is sure there will be plenty of opportunity for bonding over the next two years.

"Quins is a real family club," said Greenwood. "It is the kind of club where players like to get into the bar after the game and have a few beers with the supporters. We are a pretty sociable bunch."

It all sounds right up Mehrts' alley. The 32-year-old has always managed to pay homage to the amateur values. A ruthless competitor on the field but never the sort to take things too seriously, as he demonstrated last year when he jumped out from behind a couch at an All Black after-match function to scare the living daylights out of Colin Meads.

But Mehrtens hasn't taken a soft option in joining Quins. His superannuation scheme will be nicely topped up with his contract believed to be worth 180,000 a season ($460,000).

But he'll sweat blood for it. And it will be sweat worked up in some of the UK's more hostile outposts.

"Last year was a disaster for the club," said Greenwood. "But there is a real determination to put things right. We have to. Dean Richards has been appointed as coach and there is a burning desire to get back into the Premiership.

"A lot of money has been invested in the ground and we feel we owe our supporters.

"We will play at a lot of really good rugby clubs. Real rugby places like Exeter, Pertemps Bees, Plymouth, Penzance, Doncaster. These are great places to visit, tough places to get results."

The shock of relegation has still not been fully absorbed by Quins. Based in the affluent suburb of Richmond, Quins have gained a reputation as rugby's glamour boys. Their support base is drawn from the City types who inhabit London's stock-broking belt in the southwest of London and former players include Zinzan Brooke and Will Carling.

Mehrtens fits the bill in terms of having the requisite profile. He'll find, though, that the Harlequins faithful will need to see some substance too. Big names who don't front up are no longer tolerated.

Relegation is a very expensive business, with the club estimating that their season out of the top flight will cost them an estimated 3m ($7.7m).

So the challenge for Mehrtens is to do what he did for 11 years at Canterbury and play with his heart on his sleeve and a smile on his face.

And Greenwood reckons if he does that, he will be just fine.

"We have a big ex-pat following at Quins. Andre Vos, our openside, is a former Springbok captain and attracts a big South African presence. I'm sure if Andrew does what we know he can do, there will be a big Kiwi following drawn to the club."

Expectation, it seems, is still the bane of Mehrtens' life.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY