Ulster head coach Richie Murphy praised his side’s fighting qualities as they battled back from a 21-point deficit against a dominant Bulls to go close to securing an upset against the South African side in Pretoria.

In the end, the hosts ran out 34-26 victors against the Irish province in the United Rugby Championship encounter at Loftus Versfield Stadium.

Ulster came away with a bonus point for scoring four tries but were denied a second bonus point by Curwin Bosch’s penalty with the last kick of the game.

Former Ulster star Marcell Coetzee led the way for his side in a dominant pack effort, scoring two of his side’s four tries despite spending 10 minutes in the sin-bin.

Ulster are still without a win in their URC campaign, having drawn two and lost two of their league matches this season.

“We struggled at the start to get a foothold in the game. Our first three possessions were probably turned over too easily and that puts you under pressure, especially when you’re playing against a team like the Bulls,” Murphy reflected after the game.

“They got access into our ’22’ and coming up to half-time they had about 65% territory and possession.

“I thought our guys did a really good job of sticking to the plan, executing and having a chance two or three plays to go to actually win the game.

“So we were disappointed in the end and disappointed to give up the bonus point in that last play of the game.”

Murphy lamented his team’s indiscipline in the first half, highlighting that as a contributory factor in leaving them with a mountain to climb.

“Our scrum held up reasonably well. Everyone knows when you come to South Africa your scrum is going to be under pressure so it’s an area we need to get better at.

“We had a way we wanted to play. We probably went away from that early on in the game but we got more towards what we were trying to do towards the back end of the half and in the second half.

“You have to stick in the fight here. Plenty of teams come here and kind of roll over.

“I don’t think we did that, which I’m really proud about, the way the lads stuck to the task.”

A Stuart McCloskey pass looked to have set James McKillop galloping clear on the wing to put Ulster in with a chance of what at one stage appeared a very unlikely victory but the Ireland centre was adjudged to have had part of his foot in touch.

“Stu’s foot was probably just in touch but if he gets that away earlier we’re going into the last two minutes with a lead. But that’s the breaks,” bemoaned the Ulster coach.

Murphy highlighted the breakdown as another area his side could improve on before next week’s meeting with the Stormers in Cape Town.

“We have to learn lessons but we will benefit from these tight battles come the end of the season,” he added.

The province’s Ireland internationals will return home to join up with Andy Farrell’s international squad, which assembles on Monday, while Murphy revealed that seven squad reinforcements would be arriving in Cape Town to bolster his side’s ranks ahead of the game with Stormers.