Richie Murphy gave reporters an injury update and how he is planning to prepare the team ahead of the toughest task in European Rugby against the reigning champions.
Injuries
We picked up a few injuries at the weekend. John has picked up a hamstring injury, which is not as bad as first feared but will keep him out of this week. Ben Moxham has a serious knee injury and that will be a lengthy return for him. It’s very disappointing for him.
Young players gaining experience
It's going to be huge for them. For some of those, playing against some of the players they will be playing against, never mind the team or where it is, will be an experience in itself. As part of the journey of this team, no matter what happens this weekend, win or lose, there will be massive learnings.
Playing with more consistency
Our job is to try and be more consistent in the moment. We played some really good stuff and then we have moments, lapses of concentration. If we have those lapses this week, it will cost us. They are the best team in transition, have a massive scrum and a massive maul. We will have to be very good to get something out of the game.
Size of the task
We are definitely going there to play and impose our game on them. We are under no illusions as to how tough that is going to be but if we can get our primary possession, get ball around the park, we will be looking to play the way we have all year but with more accuracy.
If you look at their team they are probably two of three internationals deep in every position but there are areas of their game that you can look at see opportunity, but it’s whether you are good enough to take that.
The boys have trained well and we are building towards the weekend. We want to do our very best.
Ulster are boosted this week with the return of the ireland international players, who return after the Autumn Nations Series. Centre, Stuart McCloskey, told the press how he was pleased to be back for his province.
On being in Ireland camp
I would have loved to have played a bit more, the lads there were playing quite well and you have to bide your time. It does get a bit frustrating from time to time as you want to play more and thought I played well when I came on against Fiji. But I’ll see how I get on over these next weeks before the Six Nations and hopefully push into the team.
Toulouse focus
It’s basically the full France team isn’t it! So we’ll go there with the right attitude, to play rugby and hopefully score a few tries.
We need to stay in the game as long as possible and put them under pressure, I don’t feel the pressure is on us this weekend.
His Toulouse experiences
It's been up and down, there have been some amazing days. I remember the first time we went out there and won 36-0, it would be different these days!
We have had good results and good memories. The last 16, two legged tie where we lost in the last minutes at Kingspan Stadium, nearly two years ago, was a very tough one to take though.
On signing his new contract at Ulster Rugby
You need experience around the place and I have confidence in the young lads coming through. We aren’t quite there with them yet, we maybe need six months or a year to build the team to what it was maybe three or four years ago.
Playing with Jude Postlethwaite and Ben Carson
Jude has been great, he's a similar player to myself! I think we gel quite well when we play together.
I've been impressed by Ben Carson too, a guy who has been on the fringes of the squad who is now pushing to start games this year. He’s really impressed me.
Performance expectation
I expect to go there, make it a good game and put our best foot forward and progress on what we have worked on. We have shown glimpses but not the whole package at the start of this season. We have to move forward.
Scrum-half, Nathan Doak, told reporters that the team want to build on positive aspects of the Leinster match and test themselves against the best in Europe this weekend.
On playing the top two French sides over the next two weeks
This is why you play. When you see the new Champions Cup balls come out, you know you are playing Toulouse. Playing against players like Antoine Dupont, that’s something you want to be a big part of and a challenge that we are looking forward to. They have talent throughout their whole team but we want to do our things right and focus on ourselves.
His form and team coping with injuries
I’ve enjoyed playing, I have had a good run but want to build on that and kick on through the season.
It’s been tough injury- wise, a lot of lads are raring to go and get back out there to help us but it’s unfortunate they haven’t been able to. As a group we stick together and whoever is on the pitch, we’ll leave it all out there.
Memories of playing Toulouse
I was part of the team that won over there and knocked out by them. I’ve had highs and lows against them. They are a class opposition and it’s like a test match against them with the amount of internationals. I personally can’t wait for it.
A big win can turn the tables. If we win this week or next week in Europe your season can look very different. For us we want to take it game by game.