STEPHEN FERRIS has suffered no real reaction to the injury that forced him out of Ulster’s match against Clermont in Ravenhill on Saturday. The Irish flanker, who won man of the match against the French side, came off late in the second half due to an ankle injury.
But the Ulster medical team gave all of the Ulster players the all-clear after a light run out yesterday and coach Brian McLaughlin looks set to be able to select from the same group as last week as Ulster face into Leicester at Welford Road in their second match in Pool 4.
Munster were also relieved to report no serious injury concerns following their last-gasp win over Northampton Saints in Thomond Park. In fact, coach, Tony McGahan hopes to have Marcus Horan available for selection this weekend after he missed out last week due to a damaged ankle.
Saturday represents a return of sorts for Ulster outhalf Ian Humphreys, who made his Heineken Cup debut in the 2007-08 campaign for Leicester Tigers.
He made three tournament appearances for Leicester before switching to Ulster.
“It was four years ago. Most of the boys I was really friendly with have moved on (Johne Murphy, Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings). It is not something that’s in the back of my mind. I’m just enjoying playing here. I had a great time at Leicester but I just want to get over there and get the win,” said Humphreys.
“We feel that, even when we go away from home, we’ve got the quality to beat teams. We’ll be travelling to Welford Road thinking that we can win that game. We got to the quarter-finals last year and pushed Northampton hard away from home. But for a few mistakes, we could have won.”
Ulster have confirmed they will be without John Afoa, who is returning home to be best man at Jerome Kaino’s wedding, an arrangement that was agreed long before he arrived in the province.
But Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar remains injured, although McLaughlin will have been pleased with the contribution of Paul Marshall against the French club.
EDINBURGH’S Sean Cox has been cited for striking London Irish centre Shontayne Hape in the second half of their match at the Madejski Stadium. Hape has also been cited for a dangerous tackle on Edinburgh backrow David Denton in the first half.
