This post was originally published on this site.
The immediate priority for Ulster is Friday’s penultimate United Rugby Championship (URC) regular-season game against the Stormers at Affidea Stadium (19:45 BST), according to head coach Richie Murphy.
While Ulster have a European Challenge Cup final against Montpellier to look forward to on 22 May, thanks to their semi-final victory over Exeter on Saturday, there is no downplaying the importance of Friday’s fixture with a URC play-off berth still to be secured.
Currently, Ulster sit in eighth position, three points above Connacht who host Munster on Saturday (19:45).
A top-eight finish would not only mean they continue their quest for domestic silverware this season, but would also stamp their ticket for a place in next season’s European Champions Cup.
While victory over Montpellier in Bilbao in a fortnight would also be enough for them to qualify for Europe’s top competition, Murphy is certainly not prioritising that game and insists their meeting with the Stormers “is huge for us”.
“It’s a massive couple of weeks for the club and for the players,” Murphy told BBC Sport NI.
“We haven’t been in this situation where we are fighting on two fronts, trying to get into the top eight [of the URC] and that’s where our focus is this week.
“They [Stormers] are a massive team coming over, top of the league at the moment, [with a] big scrum, big maul and loads of exciting backs, so it’s a huge test and on a six-day turnaround it’s tight, but hopefully we have got the balance right of training and freshness to get the lads to perform.
“Our set-piece is going to be huge, but there are weaknesses in their team and we know if we get enough possession, we can cause any team problems.”
‘Return of key figures a boost’
The return of some key figures is a major “boost” for Ulster.
Angus Bell is fit to return to the front row after picking up a foot injury in the defeat by Leinster last month, while another returning prop, Scott Wilson is named on the bench for the crunch match against the league leaders.
Friday’s game against the South African club has come just a little too early for Rob Herring with Murphy confirming the Ireland international “will return next week as we just didn’t feel this week was right to being him back in”.
With Jacob Stockdale (facial fracture), Stuart McCloskey (hamstring) and David McCann (knee) missing through injury, the return of some experienced figures has come at a good time.
“It’s great as we knew they were coming back,” Murphy confirmed.
“It gives us a boost in our forwards and we’re going to need it because the Stormers are coming to town and they are a pretty good outfit.”
While the squad’s eyes are firmly fixed on Friday’s URC match, excitement is building among the support for the Challenge Cup final.
Murphy acknowledges “everywhere I go people are talking about it” but insists they must focus on the job at hand and give the supporters something to cheer on Friday.
“It’s exciting for the province and the team with a first final since 2013 [Pro 12], but it’s important we block out a lot of that stuff,” he stressed.
“Any final you get to, you only remember them when you win, but that’s a couple of weeks away and our final this week in relation to the league is the Stormers, so it’s important we get it right and be our best.
“The fans have backed us in tougher times and now are right behind us when we are going well, so it would be great to get another full stadium. It’s important we start well and get them involved.”
