Ulster vs Munster: ‘A lot of niggle’ in training as Ulster look to bounce back
Forwards coach Jimmy Duffy says there have been “a lot of hiccups” in training as Ulster look to end a disappointing run of form.
Ulster have lost their past four games and prepare to face inter-provincial rivals Munster in the United Rugby Championship on Friday.
Richie Murphy’s side lost to Cardiff City and Leinster in the URC autumn internationals, before suffering heavy defeats at the hands of Toulouse and Bordeaux in Europe.
The loss to Bordeaux in Belfast was particularly painful, with France scoring 26 points after Ulster had taken a first-half lead.
Duffy said he was focusing on the positives rather than the negatives and that “all the signs were pointing in the right direction.”
“What’s the big thing that the lads care about,” Duffy said.
“You can see it on their faces, there have been a lot of little problems in training over the last few weeks and that’s good – fixing them in the right way.
“People want to get better, they want to win, so it’s going to come. It’s going to come.”
Despite the poor form, and despite three of those games coming against some of the best teams in Europe, Duffy added that it was “not doom and gloom” within the squad.
“We’ve talked about it being a young group and given it time, but they’re still ambitious.
“They have played the European champions and the French finalists the last two weekends and that’s where you get burned and get better.
“The lads enjoyed each other’s company and worked hard there.
“We’re on a journey as a club and we’re trying to build pathways to get these guys as good as they can be.”
