Richie Murphy feeling positive for future as Ulster maintain silverware push on two fronts
Ulster complete the last of their block of 10 games at home against Cardiff at Ravenhill on Saturday as Richie Murphy’s side aim to maintain their push for silverware.
The last-gasp defeat last Saturday at the Scarlets saw Ulster slip to sixth in the URC table but with a game in hand, and head coach Murphy has been satisfied with the progress his squad have made and the number of players in the Irish seinor and A squads.
"We're pretty happy with the block as a whole up to this point, obviously disappointed with last weekend, but as a whole, I think the group has grown all the way through the block,” stated Murphy, whose side are also in a strong position in the European Challenge Cup.
“I've been really happy with the focus of the players and how they've presented week-on-week; the buzz in and around the environment and some of the quality of rugby that we've played has been really good.
“Obviously, that's been reflected in the Irish representation – seven in the senior squad and eight in the XV. To have 15 guys in and around those two squads is huge for us. This time last year there was a hell of a lot less than that, so it shows that we're moving in the right direction.
“I actually feel there's probably a couple of guys that haven't got in that could have very easily got back in there.
“So, as a squad, we're in reasonably good health. Losing those senior Irish players this weekend is a test but guys within our squad have been looking for opportunities and some of those guys will get that this weekend.”
Murphy with the rest of his coaching staff have committed their futures to Ulster by signing two-year contract extensions.
“Thrilled, keep the coaching team together, keep building on what we've started to build over the last number of months,” he said.