Job done, onto the next task for Ulster boss Murphy

Bryn Ward of Ulster is tackled by Tani Vili of Stade Francais. Pic: John Dickson/Sportsfile

Bonus point win banked and knockout Challenge Cup last 16 tie secured at the Affidea Stadium, Ulster head coach Richie Murphy was contented but keen to move on.

Ulster’s maximum point haul from their 26-19 victory over Stade Francais in Belfast had allowed the northern province top Pool Three – both sides had already qualified for the knockouts – and guarantee their home knockout round and potentially quarter-final as well though they had to resist a spirited Parisian comeback after having led 26-0 at the turnaround.

“When we look at it, we've achieved what we set out to do in this competition,” said Murphy afterwards.

“We've got to move on, we've got to park it now and move on to the URC next week with two more massive games,” he added with the Scarlets and Cardiff to play before the break for the Six Nations.

Alluding to this week’s announcement of the Ireland senior and A squads, he said: “There's obviously going to be news in and around Irish squads halfway through this week.

“What will that do to us, whether we get more in, less in … but it's really important that we get our heads down and focus on what are two massive games in relation to our season going forward.” 

Try scorers Stuart McCloskey and Robert Baloucoune, the latter on his return from injury, both impressed as did Jacob Stockdale, Nick Timoney as well as Zac and Bryn Ward.

In terms of the game, Ulster scoring all their points in the opening half, Stade doing the same in what followed, Murphy praised his side’s ability to keep going once the momentum had fallen to the French.

“You know, to go in at 26-0 up at halftime, we were obviously delighted and, yeah, we lost our way in the second half, but we showed great character and fight just to stay in the game when we couldn't get our hands on enough possession and look after it well enough.

“We went away a little bit from what we do really well, and because of that, we came under pressure.

“So, there's plenty of learnings, and it's great to get learnings when you actually get a bonus point win and you top the pool and you move on into the next round,” he maintained.

“I thought we were still very much in control (of the game),” Murphy said of what turned out to be a nervy enough finish.

“The one thing that you're worried about is someone trying to go out of the system and trying to solve the problem on their own.

“I'm fully confident in the defence that Willie (Faloon) is building and the guys and their execution of that. From both sides of the ball, in and around our breakdown, we're moving forward all the time.

“In that second half, we just couldn't get our hands on the ball and control it for long enough. Because of that, we brought Stade in. Because of our set-piece (issues), we brought Stade into the game.

“There'll be plenty of work put into our set-piece this week.”