Harry Sheridan, a lock-turned-flanker, has been one of the main beneficiaries of Ulster’s mid-season coaching change. Five of his eight starts this season have occurred since the coaching switch, and he has quickly become a reliable player for coach Richie Murphy, who coached him at the under-20 level in 2021. Sheridan has consistently impressed over the past month, earning Player of the Match in a narrow victory over Cardiff.
Sheridan expressed his appreciation for Murphy’s coaching, noting, “I loved working with Richie at Ireland Under-20s level and I love working with him now. He is just a great coach.”
Despite their 19-17 win over Cardiff, Ulster’s performance was less than fluid, with Murphy admitting they were “very lucky” to win due to favorable refereeing decisions and a last-minute penalty by John Cooney. Overall, Ulster has won only two of Murphy’s five games, with their best performance being a loss to the Stormers. Sheridan believes the players need to adapt to Murphy’s methods, focusing on the detailed micro aspects he emphasizes.
David McCann has been arguably Ulster’s best player this season, while Scott Wilson has advanced in the tighthead rankings, and Cormac Izuchukwu showed promise against Cardiff. Murphy highlighted the impact of young players like Sheridan, stating, “The more he plays, the better he’s getting. A big abrasive forward, which is exactly what we need.”
With four United Rugby Championship games left before the playoffs, Ulster’s young players will need to perform under pressure. Despite their recent win, Ulster dropped two places in the standings and currently sit in 10th place. The tight race for the top eight emphasizes the importance of each game, with Sheridan noting, “Every game is a knock-out game and we are looking forward to Benetton. It is going to be a tough, tough challenge and we’re going to have a lot more accuracy to put them away.”
