'The players will love him' - Farrell backs Murphy to make impression with Ulster

Andy Farrell has predicted that Richie Murphy will fit in at Ulster and the players "will love him".

The current Ireland U20s coach will take over as interim head coach at Ulster following the end of the Six Nations.

Yesterday, Dan McFarland stood down as head coach after five and a half years with the province.

Murphy was previously part of the Leinster and Ireland set-ups and has led the U20s to back-to-back Grand Slams and the World Championship final last summer.

"I think it's a great appointment," Farrell told reporters in Dublin on Thursday afternoon.

"I think he will do a fantastic job, his rugby knowledge is second to none.

"He is a very experienced guy that has been an assistant for quite some time and I know that he worked with us for a short period before we went to the Under-20s, but that was his next step to take that type of mantle on and do it his way.

"He has certainly done a fantastic job. I mean, coaching the Under-20s is coaching in its purest form, it’s bloody difficult like because of the swapping and changing the whole time each year.

"It shows exactly the quality that he’s got and his knowledge of the whole game, I think the players up at Ulster will love him.

"His attitude is great but first and foremost I think they will respect his knowledge, definitely."

Ireland U20s host Wales tomorrow evening in Cork looking to extend their winning run to the start of the campaign.

Ulster’s next game is against Dragons in the URC on Saturday week with Dan Soper taking charge for that match.

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