Ulster's focus turns to play-off push after Challenge Cup heroics

Ulster Rugby insist they won’t be taking their foot off the pedal in the URC after giving themselves a shot at European glory.

They are now just one step away from claiming a first piece of silverware in 20 years having beaten Exeter Chiefs in the Challenge Cup semi-final to set up a final against French club Montpellier in Bilbao on May 22.

But first they have two huge league games at home to the high-flying DHL Stormers and Glasgow Warriors as they look to secure a place in the play-offs. They currently lie in eighth spot, three points ahead of fellow Irish contenders Connacht Rugby, so the heat is on.

Scrum-half Nathan Doak said: “We’ve got a big competition in the league to make sure we win through.

“We’ve lost a few league games at home. The last two games at home are massive for us. We’ll not be taking the foot off the pedal at all.”

After relishing the 29-12 victory over Exeter, which was secured in front of a 13,000-plus crowd, Doak is now hoping for two more memorable occasions at Belfast’s Affidea Stadium over the coming fortnight.

“When I was a kid, it’s what you dream of, to come and play in big games at home,” he said.

“It’s a very special feeling walking around the pitch and seeing the fans and just being able to celebrate with them and give them another shot at glory. It’s giving me shivers just talking about it!

“This is all you dream of. I absolutely love it when we get out here. This is where you want to challenge yourself.”

Reflecting further on the Exeter match, Doak said: “The build up to the game, waking up for breakfast, there was a different feeling going in it.

“I just wanted to leave it all out there and have no regrets. It means everything. I pride myself on my work-rate for my team-mates. I just want to give my all for them, for the club and all the fans.”

The Player of the Match award went to try-scoring South African No.8 Juarno Augustus who is urging the Ulster faithful to turn out in their numbers once again for the upcoming league fixtures against the top two in the URC.

“Thank you to the fans for coming out and supporting us,” he said.

“We are truly grateful for them and hopefully they can come and support us in the next couple of league games.

“They are important games for us because we are in the middle of the log and we need to win one or two of the next games to qualify. We focus on the Stormers now.”

Ulster had gone into the Challenge Cup semi-final on the back of URC defeats to Irish rivals Leinster Rugby and Munster Rugby, while they had also lost at home to Connacht in Round 13.

So, there was a determination to make amends in front of their fans, according to fly-half Jack Murphy, who also went over for a try.

“We weren’t happy with what we put out on the pitch at home in our last two interpros,” said the 21-year-old.

“We knew we needed to step up with a team like Exeter coming to town. It was a home semi-final, we hadn’t had one in 20 years, so we knew we had to make the most of it.

“We showed that when we get our stuff right, we can cause teams a lot of problems.”

Jack’s father, Richie Murphy, the Ulster head coach, took great heart from the display against the Chiefs where his team pulled away after holding a narrow 10-7 interval lead.

“I was just delighted. I thought our second half performance was incredible. We played some really good rugby and were really clinical. To be in a final is amazing,” he said.

Looking ahead to the league run-in, Murphy added: “The focus will firmly switch now. We are back in here on Friday night against the Stormers, which is never easy.

“They are another big, physical, fast team coming over to try and take us on. But if you had given us this at the start of the year, we would have bitten your hand off.”