ULSTER HEAD coach Richie Murphy had described the signing of Juarno Augustus from reigning Premiership champions Northampton Saints as “a statement” of the province’s ambitions for both the URC and Europe.
The powerful backrower will join Ulster next season and Murphy expects the South African to bring a point of difference to the province through the 26-year-old’s notable ball-carrying and overall dynamism.
Murphy said: “It’s a statement of where we want to get to.
“He’s a top-class player, and he’s in his prime.
“He’s been a very effective ball carrier in the Premiership the last few seasons, so we’re really delighted to get him here.”
Seventh-placed Ulster return to URC action on Friday when they host leaders Leinster — who have won six from six — in Belfast and Murphy is determined that his squad hit back after letting things slip a month ago in Cardiff ahead of the month’s break
“(It’s a) Massive game for us coming off the back of Cardiff, which was a disappointing way to finish,” Murphy stated.
“Leinster at home is a game that the Ulster boys always rise for. They’ve come up here towards the end of last season and we beat them with the last play of the game, so they’ll be looking for revenge and at the moment they are looking very strong.
“Obviously, they’re missing a lot of players to international camp, which shows you the strength of the team when you think what will show up here on Friday night.
“They’re conceding less than two tries a game, they’re very hard to score against. They’ve become a much tougher team to play against than even last season, so finding opportunities to launch your attack is difficult against them,” added Murphy.
“They’re still going to have probably five or six internationals. They’ve an incredible squad, very strong.
“But we’re very excited, we’ve worked hard over the last few weeks, and we feel that areas of our game that we’ve focused on have improved, so no better test than Leinster to test that out,” he added.
Ulster will have Ireland squad member and backrower Nick Timoney released for Friday evening, though Jacob Stockdale will be out for a number of weeks following his hamstring injury against Fiji.
Utility back Stewart Moore is fit again, and, in another boost, hooker Tom Stewart should see his first gametime of the season after recovering from an ankle injury.
However, Ethan McIlroy, Sean Reffell, Jake Flannery and long-termers Robert Baloucoune and James Hume are all injured.
see link to Ulster Rugby communication earlier to day – a bit of a novel way to do it: https://x.com/UlsterRugby/status/1861350194937233454?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1861350194937233454%7Ctwgr%5E5a85d6a4ded63fca961b804b3bbdf4c241d1f8c4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rte.ie%2Fsport%2Frugby%2F2024%2F1126%2F1483024-ulster-sign-saints-star-augustus-on-three-year-deal%2F
Never really watched him, just watched some highlights. He’s a big boy, looks a decent ball carrier , interesting to see how he goes
@Stuart: irish qualified in 5 years:)
@brian o’leary: wouldn’t mind getting hanekom
Thought Ulster had no money for new signings ?
@Noel Roe: why did you think that? Ulster posted one year deficient, Munster posted over 10 years of deficients but still could make big signings. Its a balancing act to make sure the team remains competitive amd fans keep coming while balanacing the books, I expect there will be another NIQ player to come in, plus both Ulster and Munster are scoring the world for decent IQ props.
@Kingshu: You took the bait right there
@Kingshu: Because they are apparently in debt to the tune of €3.5 million https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2024/0808/1464112-ulster-rugby-chief-confirms-multi-million-euro-deficit/
@Kingshu: They got rid of Billy burns & will Addison to help balance the books. Perhaps I am guilty of paying too much attention to what Gerry Thornley repeatedly said. He is a good signing though.
Munster need another 6 good players, Gus McCarthy would be a fine start :)
@damien reidy: yeah, did, but sometimes feels like if someone repeats a lie often enough, it becomes the truth, unless you refute it early.
@Noel Roe: I’d say Tom Stewart and McNabney, as well as most Ulster fans, might push back on that comment.
The plan is to convert him to a TH.
Serious ball carrier, just what they need.