Josh Turnbull insists Cardiff Blues must continue to build momentum ahead of the crucial festive derbies.
Wales’ Capital Region travel to the south of France on Friday, looking to claim back-to-back victories over Top 14 outfit Pau in the Challenge Cup.
Welsh international Turnbull was delighted with his side’s performance in the bonus point win at the Arms Park last week but expects a different sort of challenge in the Pyrenees city on Friday.
“We want to start building momentum now. If we can get another ‘W’ against Pau this weekend then we’ll be in a really good place.
“I don’t want to talk too much about the other regions but if we can continue to go well this weekend it will push us through to the Christmas derbies in a very good place and with all to play for,” said the 31-year-old.
“After the game, you looked back at some of those tries and saw they were just spectacular.
“You just had to applaud Tomos [Williams] and Jarrod [Evans] at times, and I think Ben Thomas stepped up really well with Rey Lee-Lo outside him.
“Both the wings were busy and the backline just clicked. The set-piece was strong and we kept growing into that game and hopefully we can take that into the game this weekend.
“What we don’t want to do is get stuck into a battle with a big, heavy French pack that’s going to slow us down. The plan last weekend was to move the ball around as much as possible.
“Last Saturday, in good condition out on the Arms Park pitch, it all clicked for us. But this weekend will be a different kettle of fish.
“The weather is not great out there at the moment and it’s not forecast to be great leading into the game either.
“It’s about how we adapt to that this week and how we can adapt our game-plan. We still want to play at a high pace, even if the conditions are poor, in order to not give them an opportunity to stay in the game.
“If we hadn’t lost to Leicester Tigers then we’d be five on the bounce, so that put a little bit of a dent on us.
“Pau will also be looking for some momentum, because they’re scrapping with Stade Francais, who are towards the bottom of the table, a week later. That’s a big clash for them.
“We just need to stick to what we do well, worry about ourselves and not think too much about the opposition.”
Turnbull was part of the Cardiff Blues squad that lifted the Challenge Cup following a stunning victory over Gloucester in Bilbao in 2018.
The utility forward is desperate to taste more European success with the region, but admits his side will have to show their character to qualify from a tough pool
Turnbull added: “There’s strong competition in the Challenge Cup. It’s what you want and you want teams to buy into it.
“It’s something tangible to win, and that day down in Bilbao a couple of years ago is probably one of the best memories that I’ve got, by winning silverware.
“It was a special day and hopefully we get there again. But it will mean that we have to pull through in the three remaining games as well.”