Four games, no wins – Ulster aim for URC turnaround
Ulster are still without a United Rugby Championship win after four matches, but head coach Richie Murphy says the team should stay with its approach rather than panic. They sit one point outside the play-off places, and Murphy believes small improvements could turn close contests into victories.
Ulster lost to Edinburgh and the Bulls and drew with Glasgow and Munster, repeatedly falling behind before fighting back. They face the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday at 12:45 GMT, without nine players called up for Ireland duty, while several Springbok internationals are expected to be available for the hosts. Ulster began their Challenge Cup campaign with a win over Zebre.
In short
- Ulster have no URC wins after four matches.
- They are one point outside the play-off places.
- Nine players are away with Ireland as Ulster face the Stormers.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Murphy’s case for staying the course is that Ulster have been competitive: two matches were drawn, and in others they fought back after falling behind. With the team only one point outside the play-off places, small improvements and steadier starts could turn narrow contests into wins; avoiding a panic-driven overhaul may help maintain cohesion. Their Challenge Cup win over Zebre also suggests the approach can produce results.
The case against
Four league matches without a win, with Ulster repeatedly conceding the initiative before recovering, could indicate deeper problems that small adjustments will not solve. A more substantial change in tactics, selection or preparation might be needed to address slow starts and make their performance more consistent. The challenge is sharpened by missing nine Ireland-selected players and facing a Stormers side expected to have several Springbok internationals available.
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