Aussies aware of challenge ahead

Sun, Aug 7, 2016, 12:49 AM
Chris Ford
by Chris Ford
Australia went two-from-two on day one of the Olympics after beating Fiji and Colombia. Amy Turner spoke to the media at the close of play.

Australia are fully aware they are only a third of the way to their goal of Olympic Gold.

Two emphatic wins on day one secured a quarter-final berth for Australia ahead of their final Pool A clash with USA.

“We had a good first day but obviously there are two more days,” Amy Turner said.

“We’re only taking it game by game and we don’t know what’s going to come at us but we’re prepared and I think we’ll do really well.”

Turner was one of the stars of the first day, alongside Charlotte Caslick who bagged four tries across the two games including a hat trick against Colombia. Charlotte Caslick showed her class on a dominant day. Photo: AFP

Former World Player of the Year Emilee Cherry shrugged off a hamstring worry to feature prominently in both games.

Australia brushed aside Colombia then Fiji at Deodoro Stadium, racking up 89 points and keeping both sides scoreless. 

“We really, really worked hard on our defence and our defence is going to win us tournaments,” Turner said. 

“That was one of our main strategies going into these games. To make sure our defence was top of the line and I think we did really well in that.”

It was an unusual bus trip back to the Athletes’ Village after competition wrapped for the day, with Fiji joining Australia for a ride to the accommodation. 

“It was good, it was no dramas,” Turner said.

“Everyone is just happy to get back into our rooms and recover well for our games against USA.”

“You are enemies on the field but once you’re off the field, you are good mates.”

Australia kick off day two against USA at 2.30am AEST. 

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