RUGBY:JOKES ABOUT knees-ups in a brewery to introduce Ireland internationals Stephen Ferris and Tommy Bowe, with their damaged joints, in the Guinness Storehouse prove irresistible. The news of the Ireland internationals, though, is less jolly than this image conveys as both seek medical opinion to ascertain the extent of their injuries.
Ferris, the newest member of the Guinness Facebook team that also includes Bowe, is awaiting the outcome of the scan taken yesterday after damaging his left knee during Ulster’s Heineken Cup victory over Aironi in Viadana on Saturday.
He sustained the injury in relatively innocuous fashion. “We’d pushed them (Aironi scrum) over. The referee was running under the sticks (to award a penalty) and I’m there after pushing through, just standing, nice and relaxed.
“But their prop came around and literally fell into me sideways. So because I wasn’t braced, my knee jarred and I’ve no cartilage there either, so it was basically bone on bone. But that’s rugby, these things happen.
“I’ve a bit of history with this knee (the left); tore my cartilage during my third cap in Argentina. So it’s a knee that’s troubled me over the last couple of years. It’s been pretty good lately. I knew straight away. I went ‘oh, no, I’ve done the same knee again’.
“I was quite worried at the time but 48 hours later, I’m feeling a bit of improvement so that’s always a good sign. I’ll know more after the scan but I’m hopeful that it’s nothing more serious.”
The irony was Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin had decided to take him off once Ulster had secured the bonus point, which they did with that penalty try.
It didn’t impair Ferris’ enjoyment of the afternoon in Italy when the province bridged a 12 year gap from the knock-out stages in Europe.
“No, no, it was a huge day for Ulster rugby, one that everybody enjoyed. Now all the guys are excited about the draw because we have the carrot of a home semi-final if we can beat Northampton. It’s massive for Ulster rugby and I think it’s something we deserved, really.”
Ferris is looking forward to a quarter-final reunion with former Ulster team-mate Roger Wilson, who has become a pivotal figure in the middle of the Northampton backrow.
The banter started on Monday night. Ferris laughed: “I sent him a text, told him to get the place warmed up because the boys are coming to town. They’ll probably move to Milton Keynes” – a reference to the fact Franklin’s Gardens can not fulfil the capacity criteria for a quarter-final: 15,000 seats required but Northampton’s home ground can manage 13,500.
For now, though, he’ll park his thoughts on Europe and focus on the Six Nations championship. Injury permitting, he’ll be fighting for a backrow position, for which there’s fierce competition.
Mention of Leinster’s in-form Seán O’Brien raises a smile. He shakes his head: “It’s ridiculous. Seán has been playing unbelievably. I was sitting in the stands at Ravenhill watching him and I was going ‘Agh, where’s me boots?’ I just wanted to get on there.
“He’s been playing really well; I get on really well with him, have a lot of time for him. He’s the kind of guys who’s been biding his time for the last six months. He’s been hampered by injury maybe last year but I think he’s in with a sniff this time around. Hopefully, I’ll be alongside him.”
It’ll be a wish Bowe will also harbour as he too seeks a second opinion on damage to his right knee. He will consult with a specialist in Chester today before returning to the Ireland camp in Limerick.
Bowe explained: “I’m not too sure exactly what it is. It’s a case of nipping it in the bud early and making sure that I’m alright to keep going.
“It has been hurting me since Christmas time. I think it’s just a bit of wear and tear.”
New disciplinary set-up for Magners League
CELTIC RUGBY will introduce a centrally managed independent disciplinary process from February 1st. The Celtic Rugby Board has appointed David Martin of Ireland as its first independent disciplinary chairman, and Jon Davis as it first disciplinary officer. The two have been part of rugby's senior disciplinary procedures and processes for many years, with
Davis having been tournament and operations director for the Six Nations.
