Jordan Turner-Hall: George Lowe and I will be ready for England
And he has backed centre partner George Lowe to throw his hat into the Test ring, too, following a long spell out of the game with a neck injury.
Lowe’s 2013-14 campaign lasted four matches before he was injured against Saracens on September 28, while Turner-Hall was forced to undergo early season surgery on a hip injury that put him out until late January.
Both have fallen well down England’s pecking order but Turner-Hall remains confident the pair still have time to push their cases for Test inclusion.
“I’ve had a great pre-season and it’s the strongest and leanest I’ve felt for a long, long time,” the powerful Turner-Hall, 26, told The Rugby Paper. “I had keyhole surgery on my hip last season, which was easy, but the rehab and just getting everything strong again was very frustrating.
“But I was quite happy with my return towards the end of the season and having been working hard for the last six weeks, I can’t wait to get going.
“I can’t wait for George to get back, either, because the lad’s an unbelievable player who’s maybe gone under the radar a bit in previous years. He’s been one of our outstanding players in the past and I really think he’s got it all.
“Every cloud has a silver lining, though, and his injury has given him time to get interests off the field – he’s into his property – while developing a physique to become very strong.
“I haven’t seen George as strong as he is now, ever, and physically he looks unbelievable. You’d never know he’s been out of the game as long as he has but looking at the way he’s been going in pre-season, he’s definitely one to watch.”
Turner-Hall added: “George has got that hunger back – and so have I!
“Anything can happen in a season – it’s injury dependent and how people play – but a lot of people will be looking to put their hands up for England again and, hopefully, we can do our bit for Harlequins and help get us a fast start.
“There some brilliant players about who are not currently involved with England and the Premiership is now extremely competitive, so I’m looking forward to getting out there with George again and making up for some lost time.”
Turner-Hall has shed a stone since May, revealing: “We’ve got a new nutritionist and I’ve lost about 7kg, meaning I’m 102kg (15st 11lb) now which is the lightest I’ve been for a while.
“But I’ve still got the power and it’s about finding that balance between being able to get around the pitch for 80 minutes and still being able to put a dent in the opposition.”
Quins are out to do some damage after failing to win any silverware for the first time in four years.
Turner-Hall added: “We fell short in the semi-final at Saracens and it was a bridge too far for us last season, which was very frustrating, but hopefully we can rebuild and go again.
“Over the last few years we’ve usually come away with silverware and we pride ourselves on that.
“It obviously hurts to lose but it gives us a bit more incentive to regroup and get better.
“The carrot is in front of us now and we need that hurt to give us a reality check. I’ve got a positive feeling that we’re going to be contending very hard this season.”
NEALE HARVEY
