Richie Murphy wasn't happy after Ulster's 26-26 draw with Munster in Belfast, saying his side approached the match like a practice session.
A derby draw should leave blood pumping, but Ulster head coach Richie Murphy came away from Saturday's 26-26 stalemate with Munster in Belfast frustrated rather than relieved. His message was blunt: his players are not showing the intensity in matches that they bring to the training ground.
Murphy's complaint goes to the heart of how his team is performing. In his view, the sharpness, urgency and edge that should define a match-day display are going missing when the games actually count, and the scoreline against a fierce provincial rival reflects that.
A draw in a heated Ulster-Munster contest might look respectable on paper, with both sides trading blows right to the end. But for a coach who expects more, sharing the spoils at home is a missed opportunity, especially against opponents who always arrive in Belfast ready for a battle.
The pressure now falls on Ulster to turn Murphy's frustration into action. Expect the coaching staff to push for a faster start and a more ruthless mindset, so that the standard shown during the week carries through to the whistle on match day.
