In the upcoming Ulster v Connacht match at Kingspan Stadium this Saturday—set to be broadcast live on TG4, BBC 2 and Premier Sports—there’s more than just provincial rivalry at stake. Ulster’s coach Richie Murphy faces a unique challenge, as his son Ben lines up as scrumhalf for the opposing team, Connacht. Ulster, having faced two losses in South Africa post their initial victory over Glasgow, will be seeking a turnaround.
Despite a setback in their opener match against Munster, Connacht have shown resilience by achieving consecutive victories against the Sharks and Scarlets. As they prepare for the match in Belfast, Connacht is intent on maintaining their winning streak.
Having experienced a difficult few weeks, Ulster’s Murphy is nonetheless optimistic, hoping that the support of the home audience could spark a reversal of fortunes. He underscores the need not only to perform but also to entertain the fans with their dedication to the jersey and an invigorating style of play.
Ulster will, unfortunately, be without some key players for this game. Rob Herring and Tom Stewart, the club’s top-notch hookers, have sustained injuries in the pre-season, and Stuart McCloskey, Ireland’s international star, is also ruled unfit to play due to an injury.
Connacht, guided by head coach Pete Wilkins in his second year at the helm, have gathered momentum. Their recent performances and growing self-assuredness have culminated in them securing the fourth place in the league table, boasting 11 points.
Their last triumph on Belfast soil occurred in May 2023, with Jack Carty’s finesse allowing him to score five penalties resulting in a 15-10 win. Two of their most influential players, Bundee Aki and Caolin Blade (set to be on the bench for this game), hold the unique record of having scored six tries each against Ulster.
Wilkins has reconfigured his squad with six shifts, two of them positional, for the upcoming clash, thanks to key team members Joe Joyce and Josh Ioane’s recovery from injuries sustained during the win against Scarlets. The squad sees the return of back row player Cian Prendergast after his successful completion of HIA protocols, along with Paul Boyle and Seán O’Brien, who are on their first starts of the season, while Shayne Bolton secures the left-wing position.
Despite the changes, Wilkins retains confidence in his proficient front row trio – Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, and Finlay Bealham who collectively boast 660 caps. Additionally, Josh Murphy shifts from back row to pair up with Joyce in the second row.
To breach Ulster’s defence, Wilkins is banking on his seasoned backline, comprising internationals Mack Hansen, Santiago Cordero and Aki. Assisted by an attacking and vigourous backrow, they have the potential to fulfil this expectation.
Even though Connacht has shown improved form and confidence this season than earlier ones, according to Wilkins, there is considerable scope for bettering their “overall performance”.
“An inter-pro journey to Belfast is consistently among the severe trials of a URC season,” he mentions. “While certain aspects of the preceding weekend’s match in Wales were satisfying, we must enhance our overall performance to clinch a win the next day. Experience has demonstrated that such matches usually come down to one scoring opportunity, necessitating a full 80-minute performance with precision and determination.”
ULSTER: Includes Ethan McIlroy, Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale, Aidan Morgan, John Cooney, Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson (capt), Kieran Treadwell, David McCann, Sean Reffell, and Nick Timoney.
Substitutes: James McCormick, Callum Reid, Corrie Barrett, Alan O’Connor, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Ben Carson, and Mike Lowry.
CONNACHT: Comprises Santiago Cordero, Mack Hansen, Piers O’Conor, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton, Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy, Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast (capt), Seán O’Brien, and Paul Boyle.
Substitutes: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Temi Lasisi, Oisín Dowling, David O’Connor, Caolin Blade, Cathal Forde, Conor Oliver are set to take their places. The individual responsible for the fair play of the match is referee Andy Brace.