Nick Evans admitted he had huge doubts about going for the last-gasp drop-kick which earned Harlequins a famous Heineken Cup double over Stade Francais on Saturday.

A soaking wet pitch at the Twickenham Stoop meant it was not ideal conditions to try for the posts from open play, with Quins 17-16 down and time running out.

But try it Evans did, and the Kiwi's kick was on the money, earning Quins a 19-17 victory to compliment their 15-10 win in France the week before.

Evans said: "Forty metres out, with the ground conditions the way they were, a drop goal probably wasn't going to happen.

"It doesn't matter who you are, you probably won't get a kick from there.

"We kept plugging away to get ourselves into a better position, and even at 25 metres out it wasn't the best ground conditions, but my mindset was I've got to have a crack because we weren't going to get any closer.

"Let's be honest, it was probably the ugliest drop kick I've ever had in my life, but it didn't matter what it looked like when it went over."

Evans started what was to prove a memorable night by slotting an early penalty, but the visitors came back strongly to forge an eight-point lead with two penalties and a try of their own.

But Quins refused to panic, and when Jordan Turner-Hall punched his way through following a lineout take from Nick Easter, Evans' conversion put them back in front.

Either side of the break, Nick Oelschig and Evans traded penalties. But a Juan Martin Hernandez drop goal set up a tense finish.

And it was fitting that Evans should have the last word with a drop goal deep into stoppage time.

He added: "It wasn't a pretty game, let's be honest. It wasn't the open running rugby of the previous week.

"We left it to the last minute, but it probably shows the composure we've been training for and building. With one or two minutes left, we didn't panic.

"We wanted to get ourselves into a better position to take the shot that we needed, and it is a credit to the whole team, not just me.

"I'm just a part of it. It was the forwards that laid the platform, and the backs complimented them and got us through.

For Evans, the two wins over Stade Francais compare favourably to anything he achieved in New Zealand - including winning six All Blacks caps.

He added: "The last two games are definitely in the top five games I have ever played in my career.

"But last week meant nothing if we didn't get the job done. We put the pressure on ourselves to do that - and that's why I would put that game up there, because we came through in trying conditions."

Evans also earned praise from Quins boss Dean Richards - not only for his 15-point haul, but also for the key decision-making qualities that Evans has brought to a young developing team.

He said: "The decision-making not to take the kick and hold onto possession were critical, and it is that decisionmaking that we have been lacking in recent years.

"The other players will learn from that. Two or three years ago we would never have won it.

"The side is maturing well, and we're starting to get the results we deserve."

Meanwhile, Evans will come up against two fellow Kiwis when Quins get back to Premiership action on Saturday.

A trip to Northampton will see him face up to Bruce Reihana and former All Blacks ace Carlos Spencer.

Evans said: "We need to get back into that top four, and winning games such as Northampton this week is crucial to it.

"Carlos is a very talented player, and he and Andrew Mehrtens were there when I first made the All Blacks.

"I took a lot from Carlos's game and tried to implement it in mine, and he and Bruce Reihana at Northampton will be tough opponents."