Ulster and Ireland hooker Rob Herring is backing new coach Richie Murphy to deliver at Kingspan Stadium.
Murphy will take charge of the northern province to the end of the season but has stated he would like the role on a full time basis.
Herring first came across the Wicklow man with Emerging Ireland at the 2013 Tbilisi Cup before Murphy was brought into the senior Ireland set up by Joe Schmidt.
“I know Richie very well, when I first started off with Ireland he was involved there with skills and kicking,” stated Herring.
“Firstly, he is a great guy, he is very approachable, he is easy to talk to and I think he will bring and he’ll bring that side.”
“He’ll just find his way in and changing a few things here and there, I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
“I know he has coached a lot of the guys over the years coming up from the 20s so it is quite familiar having him around and it has been quite good so far.”
,”I think we will learn more over the South African tour and he will really start to put a stamp on things.”
“He’ll work on the cultural side on things and what he wants to bring in so I am really looking forward to working with him over the next two weeks and seeing how the squad develops.”
“We are not a bad side, and we are still challenging, we have had a bit of a dip in form this season, it has been sort of up and down.”
“As a squad that is something that we have got to take ownership of and with Richie’s help and his guidance we have to be more consistent in our performances.”
“This challenge now going to South Africa can we get two back to back wins away from home and that will be a big challenge for us.”
Herring has been sidelined with a popped bicep injury since the New Year’s Day win over Leinster in Dublin, he missed Ulster’s exit from the Champions Cup and Ireland’s Six Nations triumph but hopes to play a role in the two game tour of South Africa especially in his native Cape Town.
“It was just a really unlucky straight arm tackle, Reuben Crothers was carrying, and he hit me on the place where the bicep attaches to the bone,”
“It was just one of those it not even full contact just unlucky.”
“I think I have been through injury enough times, I think you learn over the years, initially you are out and you want to be on the pitch but all I can do is focus on my recovery and that is pretty much what I have been doing.”
“I have been spending pretty much every day with the physios doing something just trying to get back quicker than expected and that is all that I can focus on.”
“Thankfully it has paid off so far I just need to get that final bit of confidence and get back out on the pitch.”
“It is coming along nicely I got the go ahead from the surgeon a couple of weeks ago and I am just integrating into the squad now and trying to get the confidence back.”
“It is one of those injuries that just takes a bit of time to get going, I am feeling reasonable good, I had a good session on Tuesday it wasn’t full contact but it was lively.”
“Cape Town that is where I am from and my family are all there, to play for Ulster in front of my whole family is something that I cherish and hopefully I’ll be available for that game.”