Rugby's live on Channel 5, but 'Big Game 10' sees Harlequins and Northampton Saints desperate for a change in fortune

England scrum-half Danny Care knows playing in front of 70,000+ at Twickenham can rejuvenate Quins' - or Northampton's - season after sliding down the Premiership table

This will be the 10th time Harlequins have taken their festive fixture to Twickenham (Getty)

Channel 5 may not have had ninth versus tenth in the Aviva Premiership table in mind when they agreed to air Saturday’s “Big Game” but that is precisely where Harlequins and Northampton Saints find themselves midway through the season.

While the game – set to be watched by more than 70,000 fans inside Twickenham and several million more on terrestrial television courtesy of a rights sharing package which will see Channel 5 air five games this season alongside BT Sport – is far from the top-of-the-table blockbuster the broadcasters had in mind at the start of the year, it remains a game of huge significance to both clubs. Perhaps more significance than either would like.

Defeat for either side will plunge them further down the table and further away from a top six spot many of their fans consider a bare minimum requirement come the end the of the season.

Northampton, who parted company with director of rugby Jim Mallinder almost three weeks ago after eight successive defeats in major competitions, have shown almost no sign of improvement under interim coach Alan Dickens, losing on consecutive weeks to Ospreys and Exeter Chiefs. Another loss on Saturday would signal one of the most humiliating run of results in the proud east midland club’s history, with Australian coach Alan Gaffney not due to take control of the side until New Year’s Day after being unveiled as Mallinder’s successor until the end of the season on Friday.

Quins director of rugby John Kingston, less than two years into his tenure after taking over from Conor O’Shea, has not faced the same degree of scrutiny as Mallinder, who paid the price for three seasons of stagnation at Franklins Gardens.

But patience is inevitably wearing thin at a club with lofty ambitions and one of the punchiest playing budgets in England. Quins need a result almost as badly as Saints.

A horrendous injury list has bought Kingston some time but he’ll be the first to admit ninth place in the league is not where the 2012 Premiership champions expect to be.

England scrum half Danny Care – whose testimonial year begins in January - is one of the few Quins players to be absolved from blame following a string of eye-catching displays in recent weeks, especially in the home win over Saracens three weeks ago when his inch-perfect cross kicking cut the north London outfit to ribbons.

Danny Care will start his testimonial year with Harlequins in January (Getty)

Tack sharp and playing some of the best rugby of his career, Care is hitting his straps when his club needs him.

“Sometimes you go on a bit of a roll and the bounce of the ball goes your way,” he told The Independent.

“I’m still looking to improve all the time. I know I’m not the finished article. Sometimes the kick comes off and it lands in someone’s hands and other times it goes into the stand and everyone thinks you’re an idiot. It’s nice to celebrate it when it does.”

Care and his team-mates will be hoping they’re celebrating on Saturday night in a game which is set to bring in hundreds of thousands of extra pounds to Quins’ coffers on the back of increased ticket sales and merchandising.

In the tenth edition of the ‘Big Game’ Care believes rugby union, with its absurdly congested calendar and over-reaching demands on players, must look to deliver more big spectacles with a view to reducing the volume of matches.

“I think Quins have paved the way for these sort of games,” he said. “A lot of teams now are taking games to bigger stadiums and getting bigger crowds. It’s brilliant for the sport. We really look forward to it. There’s always a good festive feel with some good entertainment and it always seems to be an entertaining game.

“You see more and more creeping into the fixture list. I can only speak from our point of view but the guys at the Stoop put in an enormous amount of effort into putting on a massive spectacle for everyone. Every year it’s a success and we seem to sell it out every year.

“You want more fans coming to watch rugby. The more the merrier really.”


 Care hopes his good form for Quins will help him beat Youngs to the England No 9 shirt 
 (Getty)

The next major rugby union fixture at the ground will see England take on Wales in the Six Nations on February 10, when Care will be hoping his impressive club form sees him leapfrog long-term rival Ben Youngs for the Red Rose No 9 jersey.

“Eddie [Jones] just said to keep going and working hard,” Care added. “He always says when you go back to your clubs make sure you show you’re an international player. You should be standing out in games. Just keep doing your thing and your chance will come.”

First things first, a win on Saturday. With the game live on Channel 5, both clubs need to show the nation what they’re capable of.