Ciaran Donaghy
Head coach Richie Murphy accepts there will be no second chance if Ulster don’t get it right against Exeter Chiefs in the semi-final of the European Challenge Cup at home on Saturday evening.
It’s Ulster’s first home European last-four tie since beating Stade Francais on route to lifting the 1999 European Cup and the game is only in Belfast after the English Premiership side went to Benetton in the quarter-final and won.
“It is very much win or go home…I suppose the great thing for us is we’re at home at Ravenhill, the comfort of being at home, not having to travel,” stated Murphy. “We had a good training session Tuesday morning, everyone’s looking forward to the game, there’s a bit of excitement around the place, a big task with a very good team coming over to play us but we’ll be up for the test.
“They are a very well-rounded team, particularly strong up front a big tight five, very dynamic back row in (Greg) Fisila and (Ross) Vintcent, good halfbacks and then a back line, which will cause anyone a headache, (Paul) Brown-Bampoe on one wing and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the other the (Henry) Slade and possibly (Len) Ikitau in the centre are two pretty special players.
“So, plenty of threat from them, a little bit of fear factor from us that if we don’t get it right these guys will be very good.”
Murphy gave a positive injury update.
“Four of the six bodies that we’ve been talking about all trained fully on Tuesday, two guys were doing a little bit of work on the sideline,” he said. “We’re moving in the right direction, will we get all six back? Probably not, but we’ll get a large majority of those guys back.”
“Nick (Timoney) trained fully, Bryn (Ward) trained fully, James Hume and Jude (Postlewaite) and then Tom O’Toole.”
Slade’s long-range penalty put Exeter in the semi-finals and Murphy knows with his kicking range Ulster will have to be squeaky clean in terms of discipline and be on their guard in open play.
“Henry Slade, I think has played some incredible rugby for them over the last number of weeks and looks right on top of his game,” said Murphy. “Obviously, Slade can do a lot he’s a massive skill base, there’s not really anything in the game that he can’t do, is there?”
“His passing game, his running game is very strong and everyone knows how good of a kicker he is, his goal-kicking has been excellent in this competition…so, a very rounded player.
“He’s definitely right up at the top of his game, people might think he’s getting a little bit older…but what he’s produced over the last number of weeks, he’s right at the top of his game.”