Ulster rugby: no scars and a reset – how fortunes have changed for Richie Murphy

After the game, Murphy hinted at disappointment at being compared to other Ulster teams who had come up short in previous semi-finals.

He went so far as to say that “this team has never been to the semi-finals before”.

And, in truth, he was right.

Just five of the starting teams pipped by the Stormers in a dramatic United Rugby Championship semi-final in 2022 were in action on Saturday.

Along with Timoney, Ian Henderson, Tom O’Toole, Stuart McCloskey and Ethan McIlroy were the only survivors from the day’s starting group.

Even Cape Town’s bench featured only Nathan Doak and Eric O’Sullivan against Exeter.

“It’s been a different team since then,” Timoney said.

“There have been a lot of changes in the group now, so this is about the current journey.

“Sometimes it’s good for individuals, and for me and the likes, to build those lessons over the years.

“But sometimes the beauty of new guys who don’t have that experience, they don’t have that scar and it doesn’t even factor into their minds.”