There’s little doubt that the ramifications of the fake blood capsule bitten by Tom Williams extended into last season with Quins exiting the Heineken Cup having lost six from six and consistent league form eluding them.

Next season though allows the London club to start afresh with a new director of rugby, new training ground and new captain in England flanker Chris Robshaw.

And the 24-year-old maintains it is time for Conor O’Shea’s men to open a new chapter in the club’s illustrious history.

“For us it is a case of onwards and upwards,” said Robshaw. “We feel it is behind us now but people will keep talking about it (Bloodgate) until we start performing again.

“Certainly we feel we can do that. Heineken Cup qualification is the minimum target for us but we will be looking towards the top four.

“You look at us two years ago and we were on top of the world. It just seems when you have that confidence then you get the rub of the green.

“It seems you grind out narrow wins but last season we experienced the other side of that where we were losing by a couple of points and not getting any decisions our way.

“We said it didn’t affect us last season and I think we meant that but subconsciously maybe it did and there’s no doubt you are going to suffer losing someone of Dean’s ability.

“We have got to write some new history for Harlequins now.”

The season is massively important for Robshaw on a personal level having won the 2009 Guinness Premiership Player of the Year award and captained England’s midweek side in Australasia this summer.

Although he is still waiting for his first Test cap, the blindside is now firmly in the reckoning for the 2011 World Cup having been included in the EPS Saxons squad.

And Robshaw is convinced the captain’s armband – passed on from back-row colleague Will Skinner – can drive him to new heights this season.

He added: “When Conor mentioned it to me I was a bit shocked to be honest but thrilled to be asked.

“I think the captaincy will inspire me rather than hinder my play. I will have to step out of my body and get a grip on the overall situation but we have an international 8-9-10 combination that can help shoulder the burden.

“It was a great honour being named captain of the England midweek team and to be given that responsibility ahead of some more senior players.

“Unfortunately we could not get that win against the Maori but on a personal level it was great to get that experience of playing in the Southern Hemisphere.

“That’s where I want to be next year but so does every English player so I know I can’t afford to leave anything in the changing room next season.”