Richie Murphy was singing the praises of his forwards following Friday night’s 52-24 Champions cup win over the Exeter Chiefs.
Cormac Izuchukwu celebrated his Six Nations call up in style by scoring a hat-trick while David McCann claimed a double. Nick Timoney and Rob Herring were other scorers while Ben Carson flew the flag for the backs with a scintillating individual score midway through the second half.
The win also ensures that Ulster have European knockout rugby to look forward come April.
Speaking after the game head coach Murphy praised the progress that his forward unit have made in recent months under the eye of new forwards coach Jimmy Duffy who only arrived in Belfast last summer.
“I thought the pack were incredible tonight. I thought they were really good,” said a delighted Murphy.
“I think a lot of credit has to go to Jimmy Duffy for what he has done in a really short space of time.
“You know, lineout attack, lineout ‘D’. The maul is much better. The scrum, he’s done a super job in that area and you know not only him, but the players themselves.
“Young guys under immense pressure at the very top of the game in the Champions cup having to step up. Like Scott Wilson 21 years of age, you know working really hard wanting to get to the top of the game.”
At first glance, breaking the 50-point barrier and romping to an eight try 28-point win may give the impression that this wasn’t much of a contest. But the scoreline doesn’t begin to tell half the tale of what was for the first 40 minutes, a proper ding-dong battle.
Despite enduring one of their most difficult seasons in recent times, Exeter stunned Ravenhill early on with the games opening two tries. And at half time it was all to play for with the sides locked at 17-all.
But after a reassuring half time team talk, Ulster emerged a more composed outfit and went on to outscore the Chiefs 35-7.
“Yeah, at half time we talked about actually going back to the plan we had in at the start of the week. Trying to control a little bit more field position and trying to control Exeter.
“We also talked about the manic line speed we were playing against. As the game went on that would start dropping off and that we be able to find some passes. And I think that’s that kind of the way the game went.
“You know, guys got a little bit more comfortable. It’s very difficult to play against those line speed teams. Especially with those young guys we have out there playing, so they’ve done a really good job out there tonight.
“Theres loads of things that we’ll look back at and we’ll want to fix and get better at. But you know, ultimately the guys have played for each other. The fans were brilliant and got in right behind them and I think they played for the fans tonight as well.”
Murphy also had praise for hat-trick hero Izuchukwu who continues to go from strength to strength.
“Izzy has been brilliant.
“You know everyone talks about him roaming around the outside channels and carrying ball. But there’s actually more to him than that.
“His lineout work in the last number of weeks has become really really big. Teams don’t want to throw anywhere near him and he’s spooking lineouts which is fantastic. He’s working really hard and he’s learning all the time and he’s playing with a smile on his face which is really good.”
