DESPITE A SEVEN try to three rout at altitude at Loftus Versfeld, Ulster coach Richie Murphy was happy with his side’s performance in their 47-21 loss to the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.
Murphy said when taking into account the factors, and the Bulls dominance up front, Ulster felt they gave a good account of themselves, even though they left Pretoria without any points from the game.
“I thought our boys stuck to their task very well. Obviously we were outpowered in the set-piece, but I thought our boys stuck in the game and played some really good rugby at times,” Murphy said.
“I was disappointed that we didn’t come away with something – probably more likely to come away with a four-try bonus point than anything else but definitely not a disappointment for our boys.
“It is an extremely young team, our front rowers have three caps each and one of them has only joined us late in the season. That’s where we are at the moment.”
Murphy said the Bulls home ground advantage in the Spring heat, as well as the altitude factor made it difficult to beat them in their own backyard.
“It’s a pretty tough place to come and play anyway. Twenty five degrees heat at altitude. We had two games at altitude. Maybe one at sea level and one at altitude would have been a better way of splitting it. But coming to South Africa at any time is difficult, especially in 25-degree heat – we aren’t used to that.
“The guys stuck at it, and we were still there at the end of the game. I know we were well beaten but the guys really worked hard.”
Bulls coach Jake White said he was satisfied with the performance as his side now heads on a three match tour from next week unbeaten in the competition.
“Very happy. I saw today that when you get the balance right between your forwards and backs, you score a lot of points,” White said.
“Someone like Kurt-Lee (Arendse) and front rowers like Gerhard (Steenekamp) and Wilco (Louw), you have to use them. I’m very happy with the way that game turned out. You will never be completely happy when a side scored three tries against you but at least I can tell you that is our second game and it is promising for us if we can build on that from week to week.”
The Bulls will face Ospreys away from home next week while Ulster face Connacht, where Murphy will coach against his son Ben, who plays scrum-half for the western province. His other son, Jack, is on the books at Ulster.
- Updated 10.17pm.
The rise of Bulls and Lions is incredible. Leinster can’t send weak teams to South Africa unless they want the same result as last year.
@Con Cussed: what rise?
@Con Cussed: The days of Leinster sending b teams anywhere and winning by 20 or 30 points is over.
@Sean: the 48-0 half time drubbling of a stacked Scottish international side and URC half time “record” score by the mightly lions. That rise!!
@Sean: You should delete one of your profiles Shawn, for you’re only confusing yourself. Plus, lads like me don’t have the patience to be trying to educate you once, never mind twice.
@Ray Ridge: What this is my only account what about your 36 accounts ????
@Stuart: Not a rise at all they will all be beating when they play in ireland what u doing on here anyway its an irish app
@Ray Ridge: Stop spreading lies ray
@Con Cussed: haha clearly! They have yet to reach the URC final
@Shawn: I’ve blown your cover Sean!!
@Ray Ridge: no idea who that guy is so stop lieing
@Ray Ridge: watching the munster match omg im here in bed while there playing in that weather
@Sean: for insider information so I can take all your expert views/knoweledge back to my countrymen on my SA app.
@Sean: Your intellect and grammar kinda gave the game away, Shawn!!
@Shawn: it’s not that bad Sean. Bit of drizzle.
@Stuart: Na im good
@Ray Ridge: ??????????
@Ray Ridge: lol anyone who is negitive about munster tonight auto mutted
@Shawn: Won’t be too many I’d say, given that it’s behind the pay wall.
@Ray Ridge: Ya i notice that but i do pay so funny they do that for munster not the other irish sides today
@Shawn: for last number of years, since at least start of URC, 60-70% of Ulster games have been behind a paywall, while all of Leinster Munster and Connachts games home and away have been free to air. So for one Munster game behind a paywall, I don’t think Munster fans can complain.
@Kingshu: should really have rte or tg4 air Ulster games and not just for interpros? If the IRFU represents the 4 provinces should be shown free to air in the south or BBC where the entire island has access free to air
@Con Cussed: Leinster go through sa the week after the 6 nations end. It will be very much a weaker squad going down there. Not much they can do as their Irish contingent will have to be rested.
@Kingshu: i support all 4 irish sides and i pay for it so im not bothered
@Stuart: only a small number of Ulster home games are on BBC NI, but I think next season with a new TV contract, a similar amount of the other 3 provinces games will go behind a paywall as well. There’ll be outrage there, but when they learn its been happening to Ulster/ Glasgow Edinburgh and Welsh regoins for years there won’t be much to complain about. Its why the TV deal currently is and will be lot bigger than the Premierships.
@Kingshu: I do wonder what impact the paywall has had on Ulster’s support?
@Ray Ridge: . Get a life Ray.
Will coach against his son Ben, scrum half ,,for Connacht , really abject reporting
@John Ryan: appalling journalism
@John Ryan: Yeah had to read that a few time to work out what he was trying to say. Coach against Ben, or coach for Jack
What are you boys waffling about?
@John Nethercott: They make very little sense, those lads John. Waffle on day in day out.
@John Nethercott: im not sure