Jack Murphy ready for biggest game of his career as Ulster meet Exeter Chiefs in European Challenge Cup last four

The 21-year-old out-half, son of head coach Richie Murphy, left his native Leinster in 2024 to join the Ulster Academy after impressive performances for Queen’s in the All Ireland League.

Murphy was thrusted into the Ulster No10 shirt which he has made his own over the last season-and-a-half, already accumulating over 30 caps.

“Massive week, obviously semi-final, I haven't played in one yet so I'd say it's definitely the biggest game,” enthused Murphy.

“I just think you've got to be in the moment, really. I think we've done a lot of work this year to get us into this position and I think everybody feels that we deserve to be here.

“We deserve a shot at a big team at home in the semi-final for the first time in a long time. I think it's plus 20 years, so we're really looking forward to it and I think we deserve to be here.”

Ulster looked out of the competition when Ospreys replacement scrum-half Kieran Hardy looked to have scored a late try in the round of 16 but it was chalked off by the TMO.

It now means Ulster are chasing a first European final since 2012 but Murphy will treat it like any other game.

He reflected on the Ospreys win: “That was a tough enough night now...gales and winds and a lot of rain, not my best night, but we got through to the next round. I'm happy to be in the semi and hopefully we can go one further.

“I think it is the same, just that reward just keeps getting bigger, doesn't it? I think that's something we've been talking about this week, is that it is just another game for us, but it has to mean that little bit more, you know what I mean? You're either in it next week or you're not, so that's the kind of mindset that we're going with.

“If you win by a point or win by 40, it doesn't really matter, does it? When it comes to the knock-outs, you'll see a lot of teams like Exeter who are very good territorial, they try to trap you in your own half and they're happy to take penalties and stuff like that when it comes.

“When it gets to the last four competitions, you start to see teams apply pressure as much as possible and take what they get.

“I think it's not going to change the way we thought all year as we're going to approach the game the same way.”

Unlike La Rochelle in the quarter, who sent a weak team to Belfast, Exeter Chiefs coach Rob Baxter has picked his strongest available XV, with 74 times Australian cap prop Scott Sio in the front row and danger man Henry Slade at centre, he also has 74 caps for his country England.

“When we look at Exeter this week, they're extremely physical, they're good when they get into your half,” Murphy continued.

“They've got a good kicking game with Slade and Skinner, they've got a lot of threats and obviously a lot of pace out wide as well. I think we've had a nice couple of days trying to figure out how we want to impose ourselves on the game.

“We've been talking about that, that's the most important thing for us, how we want to play the game and take away as many of their strengths as possible.”

Murphy is hoping sitting out last week’s defeat to Munster has recharged his batteries.

He concluded: “I definitely feel fresh and ready to go this week. Obviously, you always want to be involved in those inter-pro games, I feel fresh and a lot of the boys do as well. I think we're ready to rip in now this week.”

Ulster team: (15-9) M Lowry, Z Ward, J Postlethwaite, S McCloskey, J Stockdale, J Murphy, N Doak.

(1-8) S Crean, T Stewart, T O'Toole, I Henderson (c), C Izuchukwu, D McCann, N Timoney, J Augustus.

Replacements:J McCormick, E O'Sullivan, T McAllister, C Irvine, B Ward, C McKee, J Flannery, E McIlroy