Josh Turnbull paid tribute to Cardiff Blues spirit and believes Keiron Assiratti’s first senior try proved the crucial turning point as his side secured a bonus-point victory over Benetton Rugby.
Following a sluggish and error-strewn first-half, and with the clock approaching 40, Cardiff trailed 14-3 at Stadio di Monigo.
It appeared as though they would have it all to do in their battle to keep their European Champions Cup qualification hopes alive.
But, with the last play of the half Keiron Assiratti burrowed over from close-range and Jarrod Evans converted to going the break trailing by7 four.
That was the start of 26-unanswered-points in Treviso, which swung the game and ensured a maximum points return to set-up a make or break clash with Edinburgh on Monday.
He said: “One of the critical moments was just after half-time when we scored the try and put ourselves in a good position leading into the second half. We probably didn’t have enough ball in the first half and when we did get possession we gave it away cheaply but we showed what we can do in the second half.
“We spoke at half-time and said if we kept the ball, kept going through phases then we would tire them out and find holes in their defence or get penalties. We felt we could have kept the ball on the pitch a bit more. We were giving them easy outs by putting the ball off to give them line outs so they could regroup and slow the game back down.
“We changed it a little bit and kicked the ball long and on, made them counter-attack and we were getting the turnovers or turnover penalties. That allowed us to get back down the other end of the field and our drive really stepped up in the second half. We were able to capitalise off the back of that.
“We have to take each game as it comes and focus now on Tuesday on Edinburgh. It’s going to be massive home at the Arms Park and we want to go out and do a similar thing but hopefully we can put in an 80 minute performance.”
It was a typically unrelenting performance from Turnbull, who has forged a reputation as one of the most consistent and hardest working players in the Championship.
He contributed with 17 tackles and carried throughout but was pipped to the Guinness Man-of-the-Match award by the equally impressive Ellis Jenkins. The duo joked at full-time that perhaps the pundits had run a feature on the openside that swung the decision but Turnbull had nothing but praise.
He said: “I thought Ellis was brilliant. We are starting to see some of the best rugby coming from him and I know it’s been a long time out but he has fitted straight back in seamlessly and is producing really big performances and full credit to him for what he’s done away from the pitch to come back in the shape he is.”