FLEXIBILITY IS FINE and a utility player is nothing but an asset for coaches, but Jordi Murphy is thoroughly enjoying the chance to rest his focus with one position this season.

The Ulster back row was a key component of Ireland and Leinster’s success last season, initially popping up as a conspicuous gamechanger wearing number 20 and then finding himself playing number 8 in all three European knockout rounds for his native province.

Murphy played at number 8 in last year’s Champions Cup final. Source: Inpho/Billy Stickland

He is capable of excelling in all three back row positions, but he has been able to devote his full attention to the number 7 shirt on provincial duty this season.

“It’s just been great to have been injury free and playing in the one position the entire season,” Murphy said at a Kingspan media day ahead of Saturday’s clash with Leinster at the Kingspan stadium.

“I love the fact that I’ve been able to play 6, 7 and 8 and it’s gotten me into a lot of places in the past with some coaches that have liked the versatility, but sometimes I feel like that may have harmed me when it came down to 50/50 decisions and they picked someone who played more consistently in the one position.

“It’s been great that I’ve been able to play that seven position and it’s great that Dan has put me there week in and week out and it’s been a really exciting year and we just want to build on it again and again.”

Kingspan delivers high efficiency, low carbon building solutions and is the naming rights partner and front of jersey sponsor of Ulster Rugby. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Murphy, who turned 28 this week, says it’s tough to describe precisely how different the three positions are, but broadly speaking he is expected to carry far more when wearing number 8 and has much more set-piece responsibility on the blindside.

“I just like getting into the thick of things, the not-so-nice part of it, the rucking and everything, I just like it.”