Ulster’s Losing Streak Continues, Head Coach Urges Team to ‘Get On With It’

Ulster has now recorded five consecutive losses across all competitions. Head coach Richie Murphy acknowledged, “We knew this was going to be a really tough period.” The nature of these defeats has been diverse, culminating in Friday’s loss to Munster, which marked their fifth straight game without a win. The sequence began with a 19-point half-time lead being squandered against Cardiff away from home. Subsequent defeats included significant losses to prominent teams such as Leinster, Toulouse, and Bordeaux-Begles, even though Leinster was missing its Irish international players. The most recent defeat, however, was particularly perplexing. Playing at Kingspan Stadium, Ulster maintained 70% of possession and an even greater share of territory. Despite playing with 14 men for 50 minutes after Tom O’Toole received a red card in the first half, they managed to lead in the final moments following James McNabney’s try, which put them ahead for the third time. Nevertheless, their two-month quest for a victory persists, as Munster’s Tom Farrell completed his hat-trick with no time remaining for Ulster to respond. Regarding the team’s current form, head coach Richie Murphy stated, “We don’t feel sorry for ourselves, we just get on with it.” He further commented, “We had chances to win the game and didn’t win it. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve 14 or 15 [players], if you’re in position to win the game, you’ve got to win it.” For the province to regain its winning momentum soon, increasing pressure on opponents when in possession will be crucial. Despite their significant possession against Munster, Ulster only managed one linebreak, while their adversaries made 293 tackles against an attack that the head coach characterized as “stodgy.” More broadly, the club’s performance has seen a notable decline over the past 25 months, with seven losses in 10 games this season and difficulties in the Champions Cup, where they have secured only two wins from their last 12 matches in Europe’s premier competition. When Murphy took over as Dan McFarland’s successor last season, he was aware that the expectations for results would differ from those placed on his predecessors. The departure of double World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff last summer, just one year into a three-year contract, signals an apparent end to the era of expensive international signings in Belfast. While there was once a budget for players like Duane Vermeulen, Marcell Coetzee, and historically, Ruan Pienaar and Charles Piutau, Murphy now indicates that there is “not bucket loads of money” available for spending. This shift is reflected in both performances and expectations. Murphy, who arrived in Belfast following success with the Irish under-20s, explained, “We always knew when we were coming in that the way forward was going to be different for Ulster, that we were going to have to bring some young guys through.” He reiterated, “There’s not bucket loads of money to sign people. The guys are responding well, they’re working really hard, we just need to be a bit more streetwise in big moments in games.” Richie Murphy assumed his role as Ulster’s head coach for the first time in March. Injuries have undoubtedly contributed to the recent challenges. Stuart McCloskey was the latest key player to leave the field injured against Munster. Additionally, three former players—Rob Lyttle, Pete Nelson, and Matty Dalton—participated for Ulster’s ‘A’ side over the weekend. While Pete Nelson’s competitive return would be complicated by his status as a Canadian international, Murphy identified Academy players Wilhelm de Klerk, Lukas Kenny, and Ben McFarlane as potential solutions for the team’s backline injury concerns. Although supporters generally understand the circumstances behind the team’s recent struggles, patience may wear thin, especially with Ulster currently positioned 11th after the weekend’s results. Following a 61-21 defeat by Toulouse earlier this month—the highest number of points Ulster has ever conceded in a professional game—Murphy addressed the necessity of minimizing the impact of “outside noise” on his squad. As the losing streak extends, this external chatter is expected to intensify leading up to Saturday’s second festive interpro match away against Connacht. Murphy stated, “It’s about not concentrating on the defeats, it’s about concentrating on the moments in the games and how we need to get better.” He added, “There’s a lot of noise around five defeats in a row. We’ll just concentrate on the stuff that we hold dear to ourselves and work through those processes in order to turn up in Galway and have another crack.” He concluded, “It depends on how we deal with it. We’ve got to show them the things they’re doing well and show them the things they need to do better to get over the line.”