RUGBY: HEINEKEN CUPULSTER'S WORST fears were realised yesterday when a scan on Stephen Ferris' left ankle showed significant muscle and ligament damage.
He will almost certainly play no part in Sunday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster at Thomond Park. This was relayed to the media yesterday after Ferris was examined by Ulster physio Gareth Robinson.
“The scan revealed significant damage to Stevie’s left ankle and it is unlikely that he’ll be available for Sunday,” said an Ulster spokesman.
“That the game is on a Sunday, and therefore provides an extra day of healing, provides some hope but it remains very unlikely.”
The 26-year-old powerhouse flanker sustained the latest in a long list of injuries against Aironi last Friday night at Ravenhill. He was replaced on 32 minutes by Willie Faloon, a natural openside flanker, with Chris Henry switching to the blindside.
That is the expected make-up of the backrow for Limerick with Pedrie Wannenberg staying at number eight and Robbie Diack promoted to the bench.
Strangely, Faloon and Wannenburg have confirmed their departure from Belfast at the end of the season with the former joining Connacht and the latter seemingly bound for a French club.
Cruelly, having played such a crucial role in getting Ulster into their second successive European quarter-final, Ferris will again miss out. He sustained a knee injury, also against Aironi, in January 2011 that ruled him out until August.
There is significantly better news for Munster with Paul O’Connell, Conor Murray (both knee injuries) and Donnacha Ryan all back training this week, while Keith Earls has recovered from the knock he sustained in defeat to Leinster last Saturday.
All four are expected to start.
Meanwhile, Leinster scrum coach Greg Feek was asked about the new prop signing Michael Bent. The 25-year-old arrives from Wellington this summer with an Irish passport as Nathan White moves to Connacht.
“He’s obviously Irish, he’s got a sister living in Dublin,” said Feek. “I first met him when he was playing for Taranaki B when I was working for the Hurricanes.
“He is still young as a prop. The Irish passport helped and when his CV turned up on the desk, having known him, he’s on his way over for next season.
“He’s played tighthead, he can play loosehead so obviously tighthead is a role, anywhere in the world, even in France or England, you are always looking for tightheads to develop. But he can certainly pop over the other side as well.
“He’s a strong man, he hasn’t played at the high level a helluva lot but myself and Joe saw potential in him. With the age profile we got at Leinster, with Rossy in his thirties, and some good academy guys coming through like Marty Moore, Tadhg Furlong and loosehead James Tracy, it is between that age that we need to fill.”
