Ulster head coach Richie Murphy expressed bitterly disappointed following a 26-26 draw against Munster, lamenting a slow start and an astronomical penalty count that left his team playing matches like training sessions.
Bitterly disappointed to tell you the truth, not mixed emotions.
Richie Murphy, Ulster head coach
Trailing 26-5 at the interval, Ulster mounted a second-half response, but Murphy pointed to an astronomical 17-5 penalty count that severely hampered their chances and handed control to the visitors.
Ulster Suffers Penalty Count Deficit Against Munster
Murphy did not look for consolation in the late comeback, noting that his squad allowed Munster to dictate the tempo from the opening whistle. Inaccurate execution on their first launch pinned Ulster back in their own territory.
At the moment, we’re playing matches like they’re training sessions. We need to start applying some more pressure to the opposition, and that’s going to be a key part that we need to learn from this week.
Richie Murphy, Ulster head coach
Although half-time personnel changes sparked a reaction, Murphy observed that the team remained inaccurate after the break, failing to control field position or look after the ball adequately. A high turnover rate plagued the hosts, culminating in a final-play sequence where Ulster ran at Munster only to hand possession right back. The Ulster pack also faced heavy pressure, with Murphy acknowledging that their scrum ultimately took a backward step on the night.
Clayton McMillan Reflects on a Victory Let Slip
For Munster head coach Clayton McMillan, the match showed a missed chance to maintain their lead after a strong first half.
McMillan noted that Munster lost Shane Daly, Tom Ahern, and Diarmuid Barron to late changes, forcing younger players onto the pitch during the closing stages. While those inexperienced players absorbed valuable lessons under pressure, Munster failed to secure the same quality of possession in the second half, allowing Ulster to claw their way back into the fixture.
We had a lot of young guys out there at the back end of the game, and they would have learned a huge amount from the last 10 or 15 minutes, which will put us in good stead later on. But we don’t have any excuses. We just weren’t as tidy, and we didn’t apply the same amount of pressure in the right areas that we did in the first half and paid a price.
Clayton McMillan, Munster head coach
