McCormick ready for Ulster call against Munster
Ulster hooker James McCormick says he is "excited to get going" when Ulster travel to Thomond Park to face Munster on Saturday [17:30 BST]. With Ulster ravaged by injuries in the lead-up to this weekend's United Rugby Championship [URC] interprovincial clash in Limerick, there is an opportunity for others to step up as Richie Murphy's side enter the business end of the season. McCormick is ready to take his chance if selected and stake his claim to be a part of some huge games in the weeks to come.
"When you're in my position and other lads the same, you're waiting on these chances all year," the 24-year-old told BBC Sport NI. "We are hungry to play, so it's about taking these chances. "You have to have a lot of self-belief when some weeks you don't get picked and others you do, so it's a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions.
"I'm an Ulster lad and you want to play in the big games at this time of the year. It's gutting for those [injured] lads but I'm excited to get going. " McCormick anticipates "a big challenge this week" against a Munster side that sits one point and place below Ulster in the URC standings.
With Clayton McMillan's side now out of Europe, the league is their final chance for silverware this season and McCormick, who scored a late try in the Challenge Cup quarter-final win over La Rochelle, is expecting them to throw everything at Ulster this week. "They are going to be physical down in Limerick," he predicts. "I played a couple of the 'A' games against them this year and if you don;t match them, don't go after them, they are very good.
"They have threats all over the pitch and don't have Europe, so will be fully stacked going after the league. "