Dan Soper told the pre-match media briefing that the squad were all looking forward to a crucial quarter-final this Saturday and would look to take the confidence from the Munster performance into the match.
On Munster and where the team are at
"Ultimately we didn’t win but it was a good performance and anyone watching us can see there is an upwards trajectory over the last number of weeks. You can see a team who are together and who have a real fight about what they are doing. We are getting things wrong and not nailing all moments but there is a real hunger and fight to the group. When something does go wrong, they pick each other up and go again.. It’s heartening to see.
With the ball we aren’t making as many errors as we were a few months ago. Because of that we are being able to apply more pressure on the opposition."
Leinster challenge
"It's a huge challenge, an exciting one and will be an exciting test of where we are at. They are a hell of a team, hurting at the moment with the champions cup but they are a great side and we will have to be at our very best.
If we can put them under pressure and make them uncomfortable, we give ourselves a chance. If we are off and deviate away from the plan, it could be a tough afternoon."
On learning from the two victories against Leinster this season
"We have beaten them twice where we have gone after system things rather than individuals. If we can break their system down we will have a chance. In the win a few weeks ago, we had three chances to score in the first 15 mins, it's very seldom if you get those chances and don’t take them that you go on to beat Leinster. We have to take those chances if they come. You have to do it for 80 minutes."
Young players stepping up
"This is a team at the start of their journey. These experiences will help them, it would be great to get another knock-out game. We are going down there to win."
Lessons from last year's Quarter-Final against Connacht
"You don’t want to be careless about the opportunity. Last year we worked so hard to be in a play-off and we weren’t good enough on the day. We got the result we deserved. We want to go and perform this Saturday, if we do, we can really pressure Leinster. We can cause discomfort for them and it’s a knockout game to win."
One of the experienced leaders in the Ulster side, Rob Herring, told the press that he was excited for the weekend, with the team building some good momentum in their performances in the lead-up to the Quarter-Final. The hooker also touched on his pride in how the young talent in the team are embracing the challenges.
Knockout excitement
"You know that in the week of a knock-out game, you have to 'up the ante' a bit. A few guys have been in these matches before and they know how you have to feel in the build-up during the week, it has to feel different. It’s been good so far and the guys are looking forward to getting stuck in."
Munster performance
"We thought we should have won the game, there were just parts that let us down. In the 50/65 minute period of the game. There are always things to learn, we know we have to probably put in our best performance of the season to go down to the Aviva and get a win. We are coming in confident this week and trying to play with some of the swagger that the guys have. There is a freedom to the way we want to play, we have the skills and talent to go and do it."
Preparing for Leinster
"Leinster were a kick away probably from being the best team in Europe, so its going to be a massive challenge for us. We have to go down and put in our best performance.
The gameplan will be similar to our matches this season but they will probably have a few new things to throw at us. They will have a very different squad compared to the one that came up a few weeks ago. They have internationals all over the park, we will have a pretty young squad going down. It’s a good opportunity to get stuck in, put up their hand and represent their club this weekend."
His role as a leader in team
"I just want to keep guys calm and help them to enjoy the week and play with confidence. The guys who are injured and not in the squad are still around and having conversations with the younger players, giving advice ahead of these big games.
It will be a good atmosphere, against probably the best team in the league. Fresh guys bring an energy and the guys have been used to playing with each other over the past few weeks. We want to win small moments when we can and keep going."
22 year-old forward, Harry Sheridan, has enjoyed getting his chances in the past few weeks under Head coach, Richie Murphy, and is excited for another huge Interpro match this weekend.
His progression in senior side
"After last season I wanted to build with more gametime, try and earn my stripes under Dan (McFarland), then Richie Murphy came in, someone that I know very well. I am looking to deliver now on my side of things and back up the faith he has shown me."
On Richie's impact
"He is essential for nurturing the talent at Ulster. We have a lot of young players, especially for next season and the way he has gone about it, we have stripped things back and gone to basics. He has found a way he wants us to play and we are enjoying our rugby.
Saturday (Against Munster) wasn’t a case of getting Champions Cup because we wanted to win the game, but there were positives and things we can look at to fix. I think we can give Leinster a good rattle at the weekend."
Leinster motivation
"Nothing is for granted, this Leinster side will be completely different from the side we faced a few weekends ago. Since then they have lost the Champions Cup final so that would have stung them and they will be coming fully motivated, as we are.
I think a big difference between last year and this year would be momentum. I think in our past five or so performances we showed we can grind out wins and then against Munster we had a good performance despite the loss. We feel that the ball is rolling and we want to execute the game-plan.
It feels like you are playing the Ireland team, so there is no better way to lay down a marker as a young player, it’s easy to get motivated for it. "