Dean Richards backs England and City Scrum

He said: "Martin is very new to his role and he's very new to the situation he finds himself in. As a consequence people are expecting things to happen overnight.

"He has his vision as to where he wants England rugby to go and you have to respect that. Give him a little bit of time and credibility because these things don't happen overnight."

England face Scotland in the Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham tomorrow and Richards, 45, thinks a win will show English rugby is heading in the right direction.

He said: "If you look at the pre-Christmas internationals and the ones last summer they were very difficult games. The Six Nations matches we've lost against Wales and Ireland, ordinarily we would have lost those anyway.

"But England will beat Scotland comfortably and at the end of the Six Nations we'll turn round in second or third place and say that wasn't so bad after all."

On the club scene the big news has been the defection of top English players to French clubs, where they can earn a lot more money than in the Guinness Premiership.

Wasps' Riki Flutey, James Haskell and Tom Palmer have been the most high profile recruits but Richards is not worried about his Harlequins players following suit.

He said: "I think people have to get it into perspective why these guys have done this.

"It's only three guys from one club who have gone over there.

"For all intents and purposes over the last few months it hasn't been a happy club for one reason or another and nobody can put their finger on why that is.

"As a consequence, and the way things have been dealt with, three of their players have decided to go abroad. But there's a huge number of their players who remain. Full credit to them.

"Those guys going abroad have done so for one or two reasons.

"Because the euro is strong against the pound but also to experience the French culture and rugby and lifestyle.

"I did it as an 18-year-old so there's no reason why these guys shouldn't do it now."

Harlequins are enjoying a highly successful season on the pitch, challenging for the Guinness Premiership title and still in the Heineken Cup.

Richards pinpointed why they are doing so well.

He said: "There have been a few additions to the squad, on and off the field.

"We are very consistent in the way we play and I think we have people in key positions who make the right decisions at the right time.

"Couple that with the fact there are no bad apples in the side. Everyone gets on with each other. They enjoy each other's company and it's a happy group."

It all adds up to a successful blend and Richards, a Leicester man to his core, is enjoying life in London.

He said: "I am, yeah. It's easy when things go well."

Richards will be taking a back seat next Wednesday when his Harlequins players take over the coaching roles for the City Scrum tournament.

The touch rugby competition pits 15 teams from City and Canary Wharf institutions against each other in the second tournament organised by law firm Norton Rose.

For Richards it's a welcome break from the pressures of professional rugby.

He said: "I think it's fair to say the boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves last year and looking at it this year the boys who were involved last year were asking if we were doing it again this year, which is a good advertisement."

"The players get out and do a bit of coaching, which they don't ordinarily do.

"They don't realise how hard it is to coach so it's a different day out for the boys, then they go out for a bite to eat in the City later on that night.

"For me, I'm strictly neutral. I eat the hamburgers and watch the games and cheer them on. It's just a great occasion."

City Scrum takes place at the Honourable Artillery Grounds in Moorgate next Wednesday afternoon, and teams from Credit Suisse, HSBC, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley are taking part.

The tournament, which will raise money for charities HopeHIV and Boost, is open to the public but pre-registration is essential.

To register email cityscrum@nortonrose.com