Ulster

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said he was "massively disappointed" to come away from Friday's United Rugby Championship derby with Leinster empty-handed after their second-half comeback fell short.

James Culhane and Jimmy O'Brien scored to give Leinster a 15-0 lead after a dominant first-half display before Robbie Henshaw and Sam Prendergast tries stretched the advantage to 29-0 at Affidea Stadium.

Ulster cut the deficit to 29-21 through Bryn Ward and Zac Ward's double as Max Deegan's yellow card for a high hit on Werner Kok was upgraded to a 20-minute red, but the hosts were unable to find the late try that would have given them two bonus points.

And Murphy said the officials missed a hit on Jude Postlethwaite as Ulster chased the game late on.

"Yes, massively disappointed. Even towards the end of the game, they're obviously down to 14," said the Ulster boss.

"Jude gets hit in the head and that's missed and it's another opportunity to get a penalty and get back down into the corner and get them under more pressure. We definitely deserved something out of the game."

Ulster went into the game on the back of Challenge Cup knockout wins over Ospreys and La Rochelle.

And while Leinster made 12 changes after reaching the Champions Cup last four, Murphy believes Leo Cullen's side displayed the momentum that comes from winning top-tier European games.

"It's not that we went out there with the intention of not playing well in the first half," he said.

"I'm extremely proud of the players in relation to how they reacted when they were under massive pressure at 29-0 down and managed to put together some really good things.

"We've a fair bit of learning to do in relation to that first half. It's probably a little bit of the difference of the level of the Challenge Cup the last couple of weeks.

"You go up and you're playing against a Champions Cup semi-final team, even though they're heavily rotated but there's good learnings in that for us and it'll help us going forward."

Having fallen to fourth and four points behind Leinster in the table, Ulster travel to Munster on 25 April and host Exeter in the Challenge Cup semi-finals on 2 May before their final regular-season URC games against second-placed Stormers and leaders Glasgow.

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Ulster back row Juarno Augustus says the team are focused on finishing as high up the United Rugby Championship table as they can to try and secure home advantage in the knockout stages as the battle for silverware hots up in the latter stages of the season.

Richie Murphy's side sit third in the table with four rounds of regular season fixtures remaining but face a testing run-in with Friday's visit of Leinster to Belfast followed by matches against Munster, the Stormers and table toppers Glasgow Warriors.

The South African says confidence is high after European Challenge Cup wins over Ospreys and La Rochelle set up a semi-final at home to Exeter Chiefs on 2 May.

"We are playing four of the best so all we need to do is take it week by week, recover well and then just go again when it's game day," the 28-year-old told BBC Sport NI.

"We're focusing firstly on the URC now because we want to get a home quarter-final, a home semi-final. That's what teams are playing for now.

"If we win a few games we can get second or first in the table and that's what we're aiming for."

The back-to-back European wins were both played in challenging conditions at the Affidea Stadium, but the number eight is philosophical about adapting gameplans to suit different weather conditions.

"We want to play expansive rugby, that's what we want to do, but unfortunately it's out of our control, so we have to adapt to the weather conditions and the teams we play over the next few weeks.

"If the weather is better we can show better what we have."

Augustus added that he was pleased to have overcome the frustration of a lengthy spell on the sidelines because of the ankle injury he suffered in December.

"For me I felt like I could go but then I had felt a little niggle, but hopefully it's all behind me now. Hopefully I can finish the season well and the team can finish it well also."

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy makes just one change for Friday's United Rugby Championship inter-provincial derby against Leinster at Affidea Stadium (19:45 BST).

Sean Reffell comes in to replace Nick Timoney in the only change from the side that beat La Rochelle in last weekend's Challenge Cup quarter-final.

Once again, there is a front three of Angus Bell, hooker Tom Stewart and Tom O'Toole, while team captain Iain Henderson is joined in the second row by Cormac Izuchukwu.

While Reffell comes in at open-side flanker, David McCann retains his place at blind-side with Juarno Augustus at number eight.

Nathan Doak claimed the player of the match award after last week's win over the French side and he partners Jack Murphy in the half-backs.

The midfield pairing of Stuart McCloskey and James Hume remains, while Zac Ward and Werner Kok occupy the wings as Jacob Stockdale continues at full-back.

There are no changes on the bench with Murphy retaining the same eight as last week in a five-three split.

In contrast, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made 12 changes from the side that began last week's Investec Champions Cup quarter-final win over Sale Sharks, with Ireland fly-half Sam Prendergast among those returning to the line-up.

Props Jerry Cahir and Thomas Clarkson and hooker Ronan Kelleher form a changed front row, with James Ryan captaining the side at lock.

Alex Soroka, Scott Penny and number eight James Culhane come into the back row.

Hugo Keenan starts at full-back with Robbie Henshaw coming in alongside Garry Ringrose at centre this week, while there are changes on the wings where Joshua Kenny and Jimmy O'Brien start.

In a six-two bench split, there is a place for prop Ed Byrne who returned to the province this week on a short-term loan.

Ulster are third in the URC table, a point and a place above Leinster.

Leinster won 24-20 when the sides met at Aviva Stadium in December.

Ulster: Stockdale; Kok, Z Ward, Hume, McCloskey; Murphy Doak; Bell, Stewart, O'Toole, Henderson (capt), Izuchukwu, McCann, Reffell, Augustus.

Replacements: McCormick, Crean, Wilson, Sheridan, B Ward, McKee, Flannery, Postlethwaite.

Leinster: Keenan; Kenny, Ringrose, Henshaw, J O'Brien; Prendergast, McGrath; Cahir, Kelleher, Clarkson, Deeny, Ryan (capt), Soroka, Penny, Culhane.

Replacements: G McCarthy, E Byrne, Slimani, O'Tighearnaigh, Deegan, Connors, Gunne, Frawley.

Richard Petrie
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Ulster back Zac Ward says the rivalry with Irish interprovincial rivals Leinster makes Friday's interprovincial game between the two teams at the Affidea Stadium "a spicy one".

Ulster sit third in the table, one point ahead of Leo Cullen's charges, before the encounter in Belfast, and aim to avenge a narrow 24-20 loss to Leinster in their previous United Rugby Championship meeting in Dublin in December.

"Any home interpro at home is a spicy one, but with Leinster I just think it goes to the next level," Ward told BBC Sport NI's Gavin Andrews.

"We know them so well and guys are competing against their opposite numbers to try and get into a green jersey as well.

"We're really looking forward to it. We don't really know what sort of team they are going to send up, but it doesn't really matter, they have a lot of talent and a lot of depth, but we're looking forward to it, to the challenge, and I really hope it stays dry."

Ulster will face Exeter Chiefs for a place in the European Challenge Cup final in early May but are also well in the hunt for URC silverware with four sets of games remaining before the knockout play-off stages of that competition.

"To be in this position now is class. If you'd said at the start of the season we'd be in the position we are now we'd have been delighted," enthused the 27-year-old.

"The hard work that we've done over the season is now really standing to us.

"We have some big games coming up, but the majority of those at home which is really good, so hopefully a packed Affidea can get us over the line in those games."

Ward is also pleased with his own form this campaign, although he knows there is still room for improvement.

He scored two tries in the weekend win over La Rochelle and set up another for brother Bryn.

"From where I was last year to now I think I have come on a lot and have really grown in confidence," explained the ex-Ireland Sevens player.

"There are still things I need to work on, still a lot to learn, but hopefully I can kick on at the business end of the season.

"Playing in front of our fans is amazing, they really get behind us, they really back us, and we just want to keep performing, getting a few more people into the stands to cheer us on and put a few more smiles on faces."

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Ulster winger Jacob Stockdale said Friday's Challenge Cup quarter-final against La Rochelle is a chance to "create a statement for ourselves" [20:00 BST].

Richie Murphy's side defeated Ospreys 28-24 at the Affidea Stadium to advance to the last eight.

La Rochelle won the Champions Cup in 2022 and 2023 and were the victors against Newcastle Red Bulls to set up the tie in Belfast.

"It's an exciting game as they are a big French giant. I feel like we do play well whenever big French teams come to town, so, I'm really excited about it," Stockdale told BBC Sport NI's Mark Sidebottom.

"I think there's an opportunity to put in a massive performance and hopefully create a bit of a statement for ourselves.

"We need to focus on ourselves, just bring the best version of ourselves, and hope that that's enough and I think it will be."

Despite playing four times against La Rochelle during his career so far and Ulster only winning one of those matches, Stockdale believes that the side can take confidence into the game after the Ospreys win.

The home side trailed 17-14 before Stockdale and Nick Timoney crossed the line in the second half to secure Ulster's quarter-final spot.

"It was frustrating on the pitch but, looking back and reviewing it, it's quite encouraging because we were able to beat a good Ospreys in a tight encounter, but actually leave a lot on the pitch," he continued.

"We felt like we weren't really anywhere near our best and the best we've shown so far this season.

"So that's exciting that we can hopefully right those wrongs this week and put in a big, big performance on Friday."

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Massimo De Lutiis has ended speculation of a move to Ireland by signing a three-year contract with Australia and the Queensland Reds.

The 22-year-old tight-head prop was linked with a move to Ulster but has committed his future to Australia until the end of the 2029 season.

De Lutiis, who weighs 126kg, said his family and the chance to represent Australia at a home World Cup next year were key factors in his decision.

"I had a lot to weigh up. I spent a good week or two going through it and it was a bit stressful," said De Lutiis, who is yet to make his Test debut for Australia.

"I definitely feel like a weight has been lifted with this decision. Now I'm locked in, I can focus on the next three years in Australia."

Sydney-born De Lutiis played nine Super Rugby Pacific games for the Reds last season but has not featured this term because of a hamstring injury.

"Despite challenges with injury, he's a committed professional and he's only going to get better and better," said Reds coach Les Kiss, who will replace Joe Schmidt as Wallabies boss later this year.

"He's an important and respected figure in the Reds locker room."

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Ulster have confirmed that Rob Herring and Nathan Doak are injury doubts for Friday's Challenge Cup quarter-final against La Rochelle (20:00 BST).

Herring (calf) and Doak (ankle) both picked up injuries in Saturday's 28-24 victory over Ospreys at the Affidea Stadium.

Scrum-half Doak made his international debut in the Six Nations and has been influential in Ulster's impressive form this season.

"We are still waiting on both of the guys," Ulster defence coach Willie Faloon told BBC Sport NI.

"They both took part in some parts of training and we will see where we are at the weekend."

Stewart Moore (knee), Rory McGuire (shoulder), James McNabney (knee), Michael Lowry (groin) and Robert Baloucoune (elbow) will remain sidelined this weekend.

Richie Murphy's side face La Rochelle for a spot in the Challenge Cup semi-finals with the northern province unbeaten in their past two games.

This weekend's visitors defeated Newcastle Red Bulls 26-18 to reach the last eight and have won three of their past four fixtures.

Montpellier host Connacht, Benetton welcome Exeter Chiefs and Zebre face Dragons in the other quarter-finals.