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Stewart (47'), Flannery (54'), Ward (71')
Tries
Doak (48', 71')
Conversions
Doak (4', 24', 42')
Penalties
Hanrahan (27')
Richie Murphy is the architect of something magical in Belfast. After yet another statement victory on Friday, this time in festive snowy conditions, they are firmly a URC title contender, as the season passes the halfway point.
A club whose identity has always been to throw the ball around, this new era of Belfast brilliance feels natural. The electricity of Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble, Tommy Seymour and Simon Danielli now lives on through Stockdale, Kok, Baloucoune, Lowry, Ward and others.
Energy and vibes are often overused in the rugby lexicon, but this Ulster side has those intangibles in spades. You can feel the crowd perk up when Werner Kok gets motoring, while Jacob Stockdale is the prodigal son of these parishes.
Something is brewing, and everyone knows it.
A Baltic Ravenhill Debut
Friday night was this writer’s first venture to Ulster’s home of rugby, and it’s fair to say it lived up to its billing. Maybe it’s the ‘sicko’ mindset of a rugby nut, or just the sheer excitement of winter rugby, but the freezing temperatures added to the occasion for fans, players and journalists alike.
Walking into the grounds some 90 minutes prior to kickoff, there was a buzz of excitement in the air. Belief is a powerful drug, but it’s not just that. It’s the feeling of excitement, without the burden of pressure that serves as a happy medium. It is, essentially, a win-win for the northern faithful.
The onfield action is far from groundbreaking, but it's certainly pleasing. To a man, almost every comment was some strain of “hopefully Ulster turn up to play”, because they are fun to watch. As the game battles to attract eyeballs, and cures insomnia at times; we need more Ulsters, Northampton’s and UBB’s.
Swagger with substance.
By the time kickoff rolled around, you could sense the excitement at the prospect at hand. The grand stand was hopping, but so too were the passes. We had to wait until a second half flurry, of scores and snow, to really capture the imagination.
Electricity on and off the pitch
As I touched on briefly above, the camaraderie off the field is matched with the cohesive excellence on it. The Ward brothers are staples of this squad now, Iain Henderson and Jacob Stockdale are everpresent heroes, and as for Werner Kok… a terrace’s best friend.
The South African winger has been a match made in heaven for Richie Murphy’s squad, and is now the face of their season. A highlight reel player, or more accurately, a moments player, Kok and co shone bright on Friday, and took the game to hapless Munster.
The second forty epitomised Richie Murphy’s identity for what this Ulster team can be. Young stars stepping up, NIQs and leadership group everpresent, a fluid brand out wide and beefy intensity up closer.
The only dampener you could put on proceedings is by mentioning the A word. That of course is for Andy Farrell, and his upcoming squad selection. Ulster has been the least represented province in recent years, and you’d be hard pressed to be too optimistic in the coming weeks.
Nathan Doak, David McCann, Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson, Zac Ward and Harry Sheridan have beaten the door down, and so far, there’s only one beneficiary.
The Title Goes Through Belfast?
Securing top spot in the URC log seems far removed currently, as is natural, but you cannot help but feel that Ulster will play a huge role in deciding the league’s pathway.
Current top dog Stormers, champions Leinster, Scottish kings Glasgow and provincial rivals Connacht all have to travel to the Affidea Stadium between now and the season's end. With their current form and a possible home run in Europe on the cards; nothing about those games should scare Ulster.
It should motivate them.
The biggest obstacle is the lap of the gods. Ulster’s injury report has been relatively clean, so far, and an improvement on last season where luck was only used to spite them.
If they can keep the majority of their core senior players fit, which in turn allows them to ease in the likes of Hope, Irvine and Bryn Ward to a happy, healthy and surging side.
That was the vision when Richie Murphy, a former Ireland under-20 head coach, was appointed. He can nurture young talents.
He’s marrying that skill with the ability of the elder statesmen, and providing one of the most dynamic sides in the URC.
Watch this space, because raucous Ravenhill will be the scene for many more thrillers and scalps in the next six months.
