Jordi Murphy sets Ulster trophy goal

It will be the first time Ulster will play in the Europe’s secondary competition after defeats against Toulouse and Gloucester saw them finish ninth in their Champions Cup pool with the final two rounds scrapped after coronavirus travel fears.

The draw for the last 16 takes place this afternoon, Ulster can’t draw anyone from the Pro14 so will face either English or French opposition.

The English teams left in the competition are London Irish, Harlequins, Northampton Saints, Bath, Leicester Tigers and Newcastle Falcons with France represented by Montpellier and Agen.

“It’s huge for us, we want to win silverware, it’s hugely disappointing that we’re not going to get the chance to compete for the Pro14 but the Challenge Cup is still available and the Rainbow Cup or whatever might come at the end of that,” said the Ireland flanker. “We’ve two more league games and we want to put some good stuff out there.”

Ulster’s challenge for a first domestic rugby crown since 2006 was ended by Murphy’s former team Leinster on Saturday night, the 38-19 bonus point victory meant Leo Cullen’s side were 11 points clear of Ulster with only two games remaining.

“We’re very disappointed, I can’t fault the effort with our backs against the wall pretty early on,” said Murphy. “Against a team like Leinster, you need a few breaks and they didn’t go our way.

“We’re very disappointed but I’m proud of the efforts that the boys put in, especially down to 14 and sometimes 13.

“I suppose you’re playing the best team in the league over the last few years and to be doing it with one less man is pretty tough.

“They’re pretty clinical in their approach when they get an opportunity.

“If they’ve a sniff you might be weakened, they take it.

“I thought they put us under a lot of pressure, the boys did really well to regroup after those tough decisions against us.

“When the subs came on there was a really good energy and we managed to get that extra score but, yeah, it’s just tough to take.

“The only thing we ask for is consistency and I don’t think we really got that on the refereeing side.”

Murphy wasn’t happy with some of the decision that went against Ulster on Saturday night.

“It’s difficult because you try to chat to him and try to figure out how one thing is a straight red and one thing, from the rules I know, seems to be a red also (but is given a yellow) but look, that’s his job, to make that decision,” he said. “It’s just trying to keep heads high when your backs are against the wall, but we’ve a strong-minded group and I was very proud of the way we bounced back from certain situations.”

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