In the 10 years he spent in the Franklin's Gardens dressing rooms, George Furbank sang the line plenty of times. "Big city lights don't bother me," goes Northampton's victory song. "Northampton Saints I'd rather be."
Had Northampton offered him a longer contract at the end of last season, Furbank may still have been with the champions. They didn't, though, and Harlequins did. Suddenly those big city lights beckoned. "Yeah, the big city lights are a change, but a change I'm enjoying," says Furbank. "There is just stuff on your doorstep which is unreal - great food spots, good coffee spots."
The 30-year-old, who grew up in Cambridgeshire, has opted to live nearer to central London rather than right by Quins' Guildford training base. On the pitch, the move has brought him into tandem with Marcus Smith. A twin playmaker axis was the concept. After a Smith-less Quins were thrashed 48-0 by Gloucester on Furbank's debut, some questioned whether such notions were a luxury. But once they played together, the duo's attack became their defence. Against Sale, Furbank's long pass set up a try for hooker Sam Riley, and the pair later combined for further scores. Harlequins lost 28-24, but the pair again pulled strings in a resounding Challenge Cup win over Vannes.
"He's a one-of-a-kind player," said Furbank of Smith. "I think people take him for granted sometimes in terms of the player he can be." Team-mates say playing off Smith's brilliance differs from partnering more conventional fly-halves.
This Sunday brings a test against Saracens, whose rivalry has been stoked on social media. Harlequins have risen to the occasion in recent meetings, and are hoping to snap a streak of three straight league losses. Furbank, who missed England's summer campaign with injury, says he is "chomping at the bit" to be involved in the Nations Championships. First, though, he has club business to take care of: "We're chasing a performance and if we start performing consistently for 80 minutes, we feel the wins will come."
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing