Gerry Thornley

I think they've been a bit fortunate in the draw they've had in this competition up until now.

Both Racing and Stade Francais sent over seasides effectively and they ran up seven trials in the second half of each game, whatever.

But you can only beat what's in front of you and that was the most positive night they've had in the competition for sure.

I mean, you would have expected more from Exeter, frankly, but be that as it may, the crowd are very engaged again with their team, which when you think about where Richie was, where Ulster were when Richie Murphy took over,

It's quite a quantum leap.

Loads of good young players coming through.

Possilwaite, the wards and so forth.

I think Jack Murphy is, for a slight guy, a very brave defender as well.

He seems to have a really strong head on his shoulders.

He looks somehow more like a chip off the old block, you mentioned his dad, than Ben does over in Connacht.

I don't know what it is, maybe because Richie wasn't out half himself.

But yeah, he's really taken that number 10 jersey, which had been a problem position for a while for them.

They've tried signings and so forth, but then Jack Murphy's just really risen to the role.

He's risen to the challenge.

I mean, you've got to give him a lot of credit for some of the fluidity of the rugby that Ulster play with.

A lot of it is down to him.

Yes, exactly.

One would imagine that having Richie as a dad, he learned, he has an awful lot of game intelligence, which has been drilled into him from an early age, like father, like son and a fellow out half.

So yeah, it's been a really positive experience, this competition for them.

It just shows you that, you know, not qualifying for the Champions Cup for the first time has perhaps turned into something of a blessing in disguise for them.