Murphy hopeful derbies can advance Six Nations claims
By DAIRE WALSH
ULSTER forward Jordi Murphy is hoping to use the forthcoming interprovincial derbies to put himself in the ‘shop window’ for next year’s Six Nations.
Dan McFarland’s side host Munster in Belfast tonight with games against Connacht and Leinster also to come.
“It’s a bit of a shop window. Obviously the [Irish] coaches will be watching. They’ll definitely be up here on Friday night,” Murphy said. “You’re playing against boys that are obviously competing for your position as well up in the Irish set-up. I think you’d be foolish to think it’s not a bit of a shop window.
“You look to play your best every game and there is that bit extra in the back of your mind when you think about interpro games.”
Despite offering versatility across the back-row, Murphy currently finds himself competing with former Leinster team-mates Sean O’Brien, Dan Leavy and Josh van der Flier for a starting spot at openside flanker in Joe Schmidt’s Ireland team.
For the visit of Munster to Ravenhill, the Barcelona-born star will line up alongside Sean Reidy and Marcell Coetzee – with whom he has developed a strong understanding during Ulster’s present campaign.
“It’s fantastic to see Marcell [Coetzee] in such good form. He’s been leading the carrying and tackling stats the last couple of weeks. His work-rate is relentless.
“Sean [Reidy] has been brilliant as well the last couple of weeks. Last week he had something like 16, 17 tackles. It’s an incredibly impressive work-rate from him.
“I think we’re all just working really well together. We’ve a good cohesion and we’re really all enjoying our rugby. I think that’s showing. Then you’ve got someone with the quality of Nick Timoney coming off the bench, someone you really look to drive the standards again in the last 20, 25 minutes of a game.
“It’s one of those things, in training sessions we’re all driving each other a lot and that’s really coming out in the games. It has been great to be involved with those boys the last few weeks,” Murphy added.