RICHIE MURPHY IDENTIFIED Ulster’s inability to go the distance against Bordeaux-Begles as being fundamental to the province’s 40-19 home defeat in round two of the European Champions Cup.
Ulster shipped six tries to Yannick Bru’s side and, in the second half, coughed up 26 unanswered points with Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey claiming touchdowns in the game-changing final quarter.
“In order to be able play against these types of teams, you have to last 80 minutes and at the moment, we’re not quite able to do that,” said Murphy after Ulster had fallen to their second heavy defeat to French sides, Toulouse having hammered them 61-21 last weekend.
“Everyone has held their hands up and come in with an attitude to try and turn what was last week (against Toulouse) into a really good performance this week and against teams like Bordeaux you have to be on it for 80 minutes.
“In order for us beat these types of teams”, Murphy said of Bordeaux and Toulouse, “we have to play to the right space all the time. You get it wrong, you run into massive bodies and they slow you down and it becomes very difficult to regenerate quick ball.”
With no points after two European matches, Ulster have it all to do in January at Leicester Tigers before completing their Pool One fixture list when hosting Exeter Chiefs. But the pressure is also on them in the URC with back-to-back interprovincials – Munster at home and Connacht away – coming up either side of Christmas.
Ulster have slipped to 10th in the league table having lost to Cardiff and Leinster prior to the opening European rounds which have now brought two more reversals.
“It’s tough to take but we’re playing in the top competition in Europe and we’re playing against two of probably the top four or five teams in Europe off the back of playing another one (Leinster in the URC) so three of the top five teams over the last three weeks is difficult.
“(It’s) Six days to Munster, and to have six-day turnarounds, it’s a brutal schedule. We’ll dust ourselves off and go again,” he said.
“(The) Backend of the game we disintegrated quite a lot and we’re pretty disappointed with that last 15 to 20 minutes but ultimately it’s not a lack of effort or commitment and we feel we are moving in the right direction. But against teams like this, we’re probably not quite there yet.”
Not sure how some RBAI old boys, a bunch of Leinster rejects, a Saffer Sevens player and a Kiwi kid with a Belfast grandpa are supposed to compete with the likes of Toulouse and Bordeaux tbh. Last week it was fourteen internationals against one in the starting lineups.
The comment’s dear god i aint reading them anymore
Ulster Rugby is in such a mess. It’s hard to know where to begin. Richie Murphy isn’t the answer anyway, humiliated yet again in Europe.
@Aidan Farrell: Their in bad shape, Aiden. Munster and Connacht are not much better I’m afraid to say. Even Leinster will all their so called talent and resources are underachieving. Hard to believe they can’t even win their own line -outs. I said after round one, and I’ll say it again, I can’t see beyond the big 3 French sides again this year.
@Ray Ridge: Irish rugby isn’t helped by cheerleaders in the media like Michael Corcoran, Donal Lenihan, Bernard Jackman, Alan Quinlan and that Fiona lady on Off the Ball repeatedly saying all is rosy and all the players are world class etc. There is very little honesty in a lot of the punditry today, there is a fear of offending someone – even if it’s the truth. We are only a couple of injuries away from catastrophe in the Six Nations. The famed depth chart looks shockingly thin in key areas.
Chin up lads. More next week
That’s 101 points shipped in last two matches – ok against two of Europe’s best but defence needs looked at – not a fan of Bell as defence coach. Also, Richie Murphy is too nice – that’s ok for young age grade fellas not a senior professional team. Jeremy Davidson is free at the end of the season in Castre – hope IRFU having a conversation with him as he is just what we need as a head coach. That plus some new players!!
the Irish media and supporters always over hype the true ability of our players/team. were a good team, but not a great one. only truly world class players are sheehan, beirney, vdf and Doris. there’s a rancid age profile to the current Irish squad aswell. were already showing the regression in the current squad and it will only get worse. few lean years ahead.
@Niall English: Not sure about Doris. He’s world class 95% of the time when playing against rubbish in the URC and against the likes of Italy and Wales. But in the 2 or 3 big games for club and country he’s found wanting. Not sure thats what I’d called “world class”.
@Niall English: porter furlong ryan ringrose henshaw
@Raymond Darcy: Ringrose world class? I’ll have some of whatever you’re smoking please
@Raymond Darcy: porter if there were no scrums or penalties, furlong rarely fit, ryan? as in James ryan? lay off the hallucegenic drugs.
@Niall English: What’s with drugs have some respect
@Ray Ridge: what are you on Ray, Doris is easily world class, and has done it against the best in the world too
@Niall English: I wouldn’t call doris world class tbh I think he’s a brutal carrier, conan all day for me
@Ray Ridge: be quiet.
Seems to be a huge gulf between the top teams and the rest.
Teams with the biggest budgets are way too dominant.
Can someone from the 42 please ask DH why he thinks that Ulster signing a foreign prop would be bad for Irish rugby?
@Justin Robinson: Why would they do anything u say when u call players rejects ??????
@Teddy O neill: Cast offs suit you better? Leinster get Jordie Barrett. Ulster get Corrie Barrett. And Richie is the one getting the stick? At least Corrie was actually an Ulster reject initially which makes it slightly more palatable.
@Teddy O neill: And by the way Teddy, I’ll be in the likes of Galway, Leicester, Newport and Edinburgh before the end of the season, cheering on the lads Ulster are expected to be competitive with, Leinster rejects or otherwise. So one could be forgiven for thinking I’m exactly the kind of bloke DH should be hearing from. The embarrassing gaps on the terraces at Ravenhill from last night will be getting even bigger if matters aren’t addressed. Ulster couldn’t even find a singer for the post-match bar – maybe he’s on his way to Munster to perform when their singer needs a rest. Or have Munster been permitted to recruit a NIQ singer?
@Justin Robinson: Twice like have a day off
@Justin Robinson: what was the prop called that ulster signed and then decided to let him go? You know the one with the world Cup winners medal? This poor mouth bit getting a bit boring. Ulster rugby, same as munster need to produce their own players first and stop expecting handouts from the IRFU.
@chris mcdonnell: They had to SK go when the IRFU reduced Ulster’s budget to make sure that all the Leinster central contracts could be fulfilled. Home form saved Ulster’s season last year but plenty of people fell asleep at the wheel if they didn’t notice that seven of the eight wins were by a single score, an unsustainable series of results. So what do they do? Cut yet more senior pros like Burns and Addison whilst Leinster get to add 160 odd international caps in the shape of Barrett, Snyman and Slimani.
Picked much of Murphy’s prematch interview and it struck me as a man reciting selected soundbites from a list of what might pass muster. Not impressed.
@Michael Murray: in his defence, his squad is a season at least away from being competitive. The senior players are on their way out (McCloskey is the only one of them still pulling his weight). I’d be inclined to judge him more next season when the younger players he has start to take ownership of the team.
@Michael Corkery: …OK, but sounds awful.
@Michael Murray: Richie was the cheap
option, in keeping with the IRFU’s general approach to Ulster. The squad has shed twelve internationals since the end of the season before last and replaced them with none.
Called it months ago that Murphy was a spoofer and I was laughed at
….watching Connacht and I have a suggestion that we rename the lineout as ‘The Irish Disease’
@Michael Murray: Its improved a bit after that first misfire. My god this ref has taken an awful dislike to perpignan.
@Michael Murray: spoke too soon. My god, she’s done a full 180 degrees now. Perpignan will win this.
@Ray Ridge: Wrong as per
@Ray Ridge: bozo
Am confused with what channels these games are on ..connacht is premier sport 1 Ireland yet on none of the premier sport uk channels ..and no sarecens game on premier sport Ireland yet is on premier sport uk 1..are all champions cup games not televised on premier sport Ireland and UK?..where are the challenge cup games televised. It’s confusing
@Stuart: TnT
@Stuart: with bt you had about 7 channels and could flick into any games
@Stuart: premier sports is a joke..
Between the comp format, the broadcaster and the congested fixture list the comp has been destroyed.
Complete joke compared to how it used to be.
@Raymond Darcy: premium sports 1 irish and english have the P v C game on
@Raymond Darcy: premier sport 1 UK currently has the saracens v SFO game on , premier sports 1 Ireland has the P vC game on…
@Stuart: both have the P v C game on mayby because im in ireland
@Raymond Darcy: im in Ireland too…wierd alright, thanks ….https://www.tvguide.co.uk/channel/premier-sports-1-hd