Back row Josh Turnbull admits Cardiff Blues must become more clinical all over the field if they are to start climbing the Guinness PRO12 league table.
Blues were defeated 26-9 by Ulster Rugby at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park on Friday night and now face a trip to Ireland to face champions Leinster at the RDS this Friday evening (kick-off 7.35pm).
Turnbull insists Blues are moving in the right direction as a new-look squad start to gel and click. But he acknowledges that they need to cut out leaking ‘easy points’ if they are to return to winning ways.
“We know we weren’t clinical enough and didn’t play in the right areas of the field at times,” he said. “We gifted them the last try and we should have been out of there, but the clock was against us and we were trying to play rugby and show what we are capable of.
“We go away and review it and take the positives and work on the negatives. As a group we have got to learn because it doesn’t get any easier going to Leinster next week.
“We are creating opportunities in the opposition 22 and spending time in that area, so it is frustrating when you don’t get the rewards,” he added.
“We are getting better each week, our scrum and driving lineout is going well, and in the second half against Ulster we played off quick ball. But we are conceding easy points at times; that is frustrating.
“We have any exciting group of players and there was expectation before the season started, especially with the players that have come in. But we have got to gel and we have got to do that quickly.”
Blues travel to Dublin to face a Leinster that are also looking to bounce back after suffering an away defeat to Connacht and Turnbull knows his team-mates must be prepared to face a hostile and fired-up reception.
“It’s never an easy game when you play Leinster in Leinster,” he said. “The RDS is a tough place to go, especially when the crowd gets behind them and their ball carriers get on the front foot.
“They go out and look to express themselves, but we will look at what they do and what we can do.
“Our defence at times tonight was superb, some massive hits went in. We have got to build on that and stop conceding these tries.”