Murphy looking to make more memories at the Aviva

Ulster flanker Jordi Murphy may have enjoyed seven successful seasons with this weekend’s Heineken Champions Cup opponents Leinster, but with just a handful of days left before the Aviva Stadium showdown, there can be no doubt where his allegiances lie. “I’m really looking forward to getting stuck in,” he begins. “I wasn’t able to play in December [against Leinster in the Guinness Pro14] but I’m dying to get a game now. It was one of the things I was definitely looking forward to when I decided I was going to be moving up here.” Murphy’s motivation about going head-to-head with his former team-mates – and the prospect of putting one over on them – is palpable. “Knockout rugby in Europe is very exciting,” he says, “and to be doing it with a young new group, a new coach and new staff this year is everything that I came here to do. “It’s just great that it’s on such a big stage and back in the Aviva, where I have some pretty fond memories – and I’m hoping to make a few more.” It has been well-documented that the 27-year-old is one of several ex-Leinstermen to ply his trade up north, with the likes of Marty Moore, John Cooney, Alan O’Connor and Nick Timoney all representing the Dublin-based side at various levels before making the switch to the Kingspan Stadium. According to Murphy, the presence of players such as these has served to help him settle in at his new club: “It’s been easier to buy into the Ulster culture because there’s a good core of Ulstermen here, but also there are people from abroad and from other provinces, who look on Ulster as home now,” he says. “We’re all really enjoying playing as a group and I guess we’ve become quite tight-knit because a lot of the boys mightn’t have originally come from here, so we spend a lot of time meeting up with each other outside of playing or training. Our families and girlfriends are all friends as well, which always helps. I feel we’re a tight group and it’s been pretty easy – the boys have made it that way.” Murphy, a Champions Cup winner with Leinster last season, clearly holds his former team-mates in high regard, but feels that his new side are hitting form at exactly the right time. “Leinster have quality across the park,” he concedes. “They are European champions for a reason and they won a double last year, which is historic enough, even for them. “I think it’s hard to put a finger on anything as they have quality all the way through the forward pack, with boys like Tadgh Furlong and James Ryan who are coming back in now after playing well for Ireland. Then, with some of the threats they have in the backs, like young Jordan Larmour and James Lowe mixed in with a lot of experience, it’s going to be a huge challenge. “But,” he counters, “you only have to look at us four or five games ago. We were fifth in the league, in a dogfight with two or three points between a lot of teams. We’ve come out of five games with a total of 21 points, so that just shows the kind of attitude this team has. “It’s put us in a better position in the league, up to second, with only a couple of games to go. The job isn’t done yet by far, but it shows you the character, especially with a few boys in and out on international duty. We knew we had a lot of work to do, and the boys put it in.” And the Barcelona native believes Ulster will have one more ace up their sleeve come Saturday evening in Dublin. “We’re going to have a great travelling support as well – I’ve heard it’s close to 15,000, so you can’t really ask for any more. “The home support here is incredible and they’ve travelled with us well this year, especially in places like Scarlets and Leicester. I’m looking forward to seeing them in the Aviva this week, they’re a loud bunch and I’m sure they’ll make themselves heard.” A call to arms if ever there was one.