Ulster head coach Richie Murphy admits rugby is “getting slow” but he does not think the game is in need of a radical overhaul to ensure it is an exciting spectacle for fans.
Following his side’s defeat by Leinster last weekend, Munster captain Tadhg Beirne sounded bleak on the state of rugby, saying he feels “the style of the game has gone backwards” and that it has become a “set-piece and kicking game” with too many stoppages following law changes.
Last year, World Rugby tweaked its laws to crack down on ‘escort’ runners in order to make it easier for chasing players to contest kicks and create more one-on-one aerial contests and broken-field attacking plays.
Beirne said teams are kicking more in the hope they win a scrum from an opponent’s knock-on in the air.
“The game is getting slow and the length of time it is taking to finish games is too long,” said Murphy.
“We need to try to keep the ball in play a bit more. We need to try to make sure the game is exciting for the fans – but does it need a complete transformation? I don’t think so.
“We can’t worry about it. All we can do is play the game within the laws that are set out for us. We know exactly where we’re at, we know what the referees are looking for.
“It’s important that the teams build their plans around that so that’s what we’ll be doing.”
In terms of his own side, Murphy is hopeful Ulster can build on last weekend’s bonus-point win away to Connacht when they host Munster in Belfast on Friday (19:45 GMT).
Ulster have won five of their seven United Rugby Championship games this season and have scored more tries (33) than any other team, 14 of which have come from in-form wingers Werner Kok (six), Rob Baloucoune (five) and Zac Ward (three).
“It’s the type of rugby we’re trying to play,” added Murphy.
“Getting the ball out to the edges, getting our wingers involved in the game, we’ve got some incredible athletes out there.
“We’re being effective for periods in games, it would just be nice to be a bit more effective for longer.”
Despite last weekend’s loss to Leinster at Thomond Park, Friday’s opponents Munster have made impressive strides in the early stages of Clayton McMillan’s reign, winning six of their eight URC games.
“In some ways, they’ve gone back to some of the DNA they had in the past,” said Murphy.
“They actually kick the ball a lot more than they have done, but they’re really tough in the breakdown, hard to break down defensively.
“It’s going to be a massive test for us. Their squad is probably a little bit further down the track than we are in terms of the strength in depth all the way through their squad.
“There’s talk about some of their internationals missing but we know that whatever Munster team turns up, it’s going to be a very difficult task.”
Ulster have strengthened their squad well under Murphy, with Kok, Australia prop Angus Bell and back row Juarno Augustus – who faces a spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury – all signing during the former Ireland under-20 boss’ tenure.
Last weekend in the Sunday Independent, external, former Ireland international and current pundit Bernard Jackman mentioned “rumours coming out of Belfast” that Ulster “are determined to bring back Joey Carbery” into the Irish system.
Former Leinster and Munster fly-half Carbery, who has 37 Ireland caps, is under contract with Bordeaux until 2026.
“Everything at this stage is speculation,” said Murphy.
“Joey Carbery is contracted at the moment in Bordeaux. At this time, there’ll be loads of things flying around. Some of our players will be linked with other clubs as well.
“There’s no real further update on those things at the moment. The one thing that I would say is that we are looking at how we can strengthen our squad going into next year.”
