After two gruelling weeks in South Africa, Richie Murphy and his Ulster team are looking forward to returning to the familiar surroundings of Ravenhill and the benefits that it brings.
Playing at home means that even the simplest detail can make all the difference. Players get to spend the night before in the own homes as opposed to living out of a suitcase in a hotel. They can stick to a routine that they are familiar with. And of course, there are no issues with altitude in Belfast.
But perhaps the biggest benefit of all is playing in front of your own crowd.
A late surge last season secured Ulster a play-off spot that once looked unlikely and Murphy, who was only in the job a matter of weeks at the time paid tribute to the part the Ulster support played in that run.
And he has called on the Ulster faithful to get behind the team again as Ulster welcome rivals Connacht to Belfast on Saturday night in the season’s first inter-pro derby.
“Well, the back end of last season was incredible, the games that I was here for,” said Murphy.
“I think the crowd in Kingspan is incredible and really get in behind the lads. We have a responsibility to give them something to cheer about. The style of football we play is going to be really important to that.
“I think win or lose, if we show that we are massively committed to the jersey and that we are playing a really good, exciting brand of rugby and there is a never say die attitude, the crowd get behind that.”
Saturday’s contest comes with an added subplot as Connacht scrum-half, Ben Murphy is a son of the Ulster coach.
And while there has been some recent communication between father and son, talk of rugby has been carefully negotiated by Murphy junior.
“We had a conversation last night on the phone. Myself and my wife were out playing Padel and we were coming home and he rang us.
“There was a bit of banter back and forth. He’s not telling me much, he’s not telling his mum much either, which is surprising.
“So, we are not getting any information out of Connacht. He is very loyal to his team.”
Murphy’s younger son Jack, is part of the Ulster squad but is currently in South Africa with the Emerging Ireland side and is not available for selection.
Saturday marks Connacht’s second inter-pro of the season.
On matchday one they fell to defeat against Munster, but have bounced back in style with wins over the Sharks and Scarlets. They currently sit third, nine places and six-points better off than Ulster.
But, in many ways, an inter-pro may well be the perfect game to come home to after their recent South African excursion.
“It is a big day and they know it is a big game.
“Connacht are riding high. Even though they lost their first game I think they got a lot of confidence out of that game.
“But they still managed to give Munster an opportunity to win it, which they did.
“Although they played really well last week, they still gave Scarlets a chance to win it. So, they are coming up confident, we can see that by the way they are speaking.
“But we will concentrate on ourselves,” insists Murphy who remains confident that Ulster can get back to winning ways on Saturday.
“There’s a clear plan. Boys have bought in and ready to go again. It’s important that they train today, rest tomorrow and keep it pretty simple this week.”
