WHILE NSW Waratahs winger Lachie Turner is known for his speed and try-scoring, his defensive prowess has been largely overlooked.
Turner (six) and fellow Waratahs winger Drew Mitchell (seven) are leading the team's try-scoring this season with both crossing the white line in the 46-19 win against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday night.
But Turner has emerged as the best defensive outside back in the Super 14.
"Interestingly enough, while Drew and Lachie have performed particularly well in try-scoring, the last statistics I saw had Lachie as the best defensive outside back in the competition with a completion rate of tackles of around 90 per cent, which is outstanding," Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said.
Turner will need to be on his game defensively when the Waratahs play the Hurricanes in their "quarter-final" in Sydney on Friday night. He will oppose in-form Hurricanes winger Hosea Gear, who scored three tries for the Hurricanes in their win against the Queensland Reds in Wellington on Friday night.
In fact, all seven of the Hurricanes' tries were scored by the back three, with fullback Cory Jane, right winger Tamati Ellison and replacement winger David Smith also touching down.
"Hosea Gear is a very good player," Hickey said. "We are aware of the threat he offers us.
"You are always looking at the threats in any team. Players like Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith if he plays, Piri Weepu and Rodney So'oialo. They've got threats around the park.
"But that back three works particularly well together. Gear got three tries, but I thought Cory Jane was instrumental in sparking a lot of the good things that happened for them."
The Waratahs' depth in the back three has been significantly weakened following the withdrawal of reserve outside back Sosene Anesi, who has been ruled out of the rest of the campaign with a shoulder injury.
"Sosene has a fractured clavicle and he is going to be out for this game and probably three or four weeks," Hickey said.
"It's really disappointing to lose Sos. He has provided a hell of a lot to us, both as a starting player and off the bench."
Hickey indicated Rory Sidey would replace Anesi.
Notwithstanding the attacking threats in the Hurricanes' backline, Waratahs second-rower Dean Mumm believes the forward pack is the "heart and soul" of the team.
"The Hurricanes are a different proposition (to the Chiefs)," Mumm said yesterday."They have more experience in some key areas in their forward pack.
"You look at significant players like (hooker) Andrew Hore and So'oialo, who are the heart and soul of their side.
"If they are in form and going forward, the team takes a lot of confidence out of them."
Mumm said the Waratahs forwards would have to "step up" in the absence of injured Wallabies loosehead prop Benn Robinson, who is expected to be replaced by Jeremy Tilse.
"Robbo carries a bit of weight in our side," Mumm said.
"He is an excellent player and his ability to control the scrum is second to none.
"You have noticed the games he hasn't played. There is a big emphasis on other members of the pack to step up."
While the Waratahs forwards improved markedly against the Chiefs following their embarrassing performance against the Highlanders the previous week, Mumm warned they would need to be even more physical against the Hurricanes.
"The key to dominance and the key to possession and therefore winning the game is to be physically strong," Mumm said.