Turner looks to build on victory

By Mark Stevens
20/9/2016

Lachie Turner says Exeter Chiefs must use Saturday’s first Aviva Premiership win of the season over Harlequins as the foundation from which to build.

Having come unstuck against Wasps and Saracens in the opening two weeks of the season, Rob Baxter’s side rediscovered their winning formula against the Londoners, collecting all five points in a 36-25 win at Sandy Park.

England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie led the way with a hat-trick of tries, but Turner himself played a pivotal role in the home side’s success, claiming his first scores for the club, touching down twice in a dominant first half display.

The much-needed victory helped to lift the Chiefs from the foot of the table to seventh in the standings, but the 29-year-old Australian is keen for him and his team-mates to kick on when they travel to local rivals Bristol on Friday night (7:45pm).

“Saturday was a really important win for us and to get the five points was exactly what we needed,” said Turner. “The first half performance from us was very strong, we were running onto the ball, playing with pace, playing our game and we came away with four tries. In the second half, we weren’t quite as good because we gave the ball back to them too much and we let them play with it, so that’s a really good reminder to us not to take our foot off the pedal.”

Certainly the Chiefs can ill afford to do that in Friday’s derby tussle, which will be the first time the Chiefs and Bristol have met in the Premiership.

Indeed, the last time the two clubs met in a competitive league fixture was back in May 2010 when the Chiefs overcame their nearest and dearest in the inaugural RFU Championship Play-Off final.

Although Turner was not around in those days, the Australian international is well versed in the history of that meeting and he knows this week’s opponents – who have yet to win on their return to the top flight – will be keen for revenge.

“It’s going to be a huge game for both teams,” warned Turner, who arrived in Devon last February after a short stint playing in France with RC Toulon. “There is big history between the two clubs and I’ve already had supporters reminding of it all.

“As I said, that all happened before my time at the club, but I’m certainly aware of what happened. What we have to do, however, is take the lessons from our game with Harlequins, work on those this week, then come out on Friday and try and repeat that first half performance for the whole game.”

In what was a stylish first 40 minutes for the Chiefs against Harlequins, Turner underlined his proven on-field qualities, finishing off two slick attacking moves from the home side.

Keen to build on his double this week, the Sydney-born flyer admits a more settled lifestyle in Exeter is helping to showcase his talents to the wider world.

“Look, last year it was hard coming into the club because the team were doing so well and enjoying so much success,” said Turner. “At the time I kind of felt like a freeloader, but this year I really feel part of the group.

"I slogged away during pre-season with them all and I'm finding my feet in the team and understanding how they want to play a little bit more and where my skills and assets fit into that – on Saturday I was lucky enough to be on the end of some really good work by the guys."