Ulster 'must win' at Dragons for top-eight hopes
Ulster head into the game with Dragons off the back of a dramatic win over Scarlets at the start of March
- Published
Ulster head coach Richie Murphy says his side "need to win" to keep their hopes of finishing in the top eight of the United Rugby Championship alive.
A top-eight finish will not only secure a play-off position but also a place in the Champions Cup for next season.
Ulster sit 12th after a disappointing campaign but are just two points off a play-off position with six matches remaining.
Murphy's side head into Saturday's game in Wales off the back off a dramatic win over Scarlets in Belfast on 1 March.
"If we want to keep our hopes up of playing at the business end of the season then we need to win, there's no doubt," said Murphy.
"The Dragons' league position shows they are at the bottom but they have been very competitive, especially at home."
Cooney 'will be missed' in Belfast
Murphy added that he feels the race for the play-offs will "definitely go right to the wire".
After Ulster travel to Dragons on Saturday, Murphy's side face the Stormers, Leinster, Sharks, Munster and Edinburgh to round off the URC regular season.
"The teams in the middle are roughly four to five points off where they were last year.
"Last year it was 50 points to get into the play-offs, we finished on 51, but you could see 46 or 47 getting you in this year.
"That all goes on in the background. You're always thinking about them but all we can do this week is play for a maximum of five points."
Murphy also paid tribute to long-serving scrum-half John Cooney, who will join French side Brive at the end of the season.
The 34-year-old became a fan favourite after joining from Connacht in 2017 and Murphy said he had been "incredible" for the club.
"Obviously I've only been here for a year but I've known John since he was 15 or 16 coming out of school," added Murphy.
"I've known him for a long time and he has stood up on some really big nights with some incredible performances.
"He'll be missed around the place. It's like when he came in and took over from Ruan Pienaar. It'll be big shoes to fill and now someone else will get that opportunity."