Rugby World: The Champions

Focus on Ireland
WORDS: Katie Field MAIN PICTURE: Billy Stickland/Inpho
Wheels in motion
for hungry Ferris
With the Heineken Cup in his sights and a long-term spot in the Ireland
team to nail down, the Ulster back-rower has a busy season ahead of him
HIS SEASON marks the tenth anniversary forward to it. We have been unlucky to be in really tough groups
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of Ulster’s triumph in the Heineken Cup. these past couple of years. This year it doesn’t look so bad.”
When they lifted the trophy in 1999 there Ferris has been impressed with the impact former Leinster
were no English clubs in the competition, and Scotland coach Williams has made since taking the reins
but they beat the best that France and the in February. “Matt really has been exceptional. We’re not the
rest of Europe had to offer and it was a red-letter day in richest club in Europe but he’s got so many things sorted out,
their history. Now that triumph has become a monkey like a new gym – and facilities make a big difference,” says Ferris.
which the modern-day Ulster side wants – and needs – “He has brought in extra staff and specialist coaches. It was a
to get off its back. As back-rower Stephen Ferris puts it: one-man band a couple of years ago and the game has moved
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“The win in 1999 hangs over our heads. People talk about on so much you need more guys around now. The team spirit is
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it and the guys are frustrated about that.” back – it’s the best I can remember. We have a young squad,
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Everyone at Ulster recognises the need to create a new but we’re aiming for the top three in the Magners League.”
bank of happy Heineken Cup memories for the 2008 team Last season brought more downs than ups for the 23-year-old

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– starting by qualifying for the knockout stages for the ﬁ rst Ferris. A knee injury restricted him to just ten appearances
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time since 1998-99. They have been drawn in Pool Four, for Ulster, while his delight at making the Ireland World Cup
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with Stade Français, Harlequins and Llanelli Scarlets, squad turned to disappointment as he wasn’t included in any
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which gives them a good opportunity to prosper. Stade of Eddie O’Sullivan’s match-day 22s. Having won his ﬁ rst cap
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ﬁ nished second in their group last year and didn’t make at the age of just 21 in November 2006, then three more
the quarter-ﬁ nals, while Quins and the Scarlets were both during summer 2007, he hoped to kick on last season but

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winless at the bottom of their pools. Ulster also ﬁ nished instead had to be content with just one more cap, won as a
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bottom of their group with just one win out of six, but that substitute against Australia in June this year. “I was going quite
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was symptomatic of their terrible form in the ﬁ rst two thirds well until the Argentina tour in 2007 and the knee injury I got
of last season and their performances improved once new there set me back for more than six months in all.”
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head coach Matt Williams established control. He had surgery, played through the autumn, then needed two
Ferris says: “If we perform well in Europe and give more operations before he was 100%. “I went to the World Cup
ourselves a good chance of getting out of the group stages and didn’t play. Eddie O’Sullivan thought the team would come
we will be happy. We want to win our home games and pick good in the end and it never did. So I had ﬁ ve or six weeks in
up points away from home, even if it’s only bonus points.” France just doing ﬁ tness and weights, and it can become quite
Ulster’s ﬁ rst game is at home against Stade Français on tedious. I know that it’s my job, but when you go to a World Cup
Saturday 11 October. They go to Harlequins a week later you hope for better. I got a World Cup cap but don’t feel that
before playing the Scarlets, who beat them in their ﬁ rst I earned it. But that’s in the past and I’ve moved on. Now I want
Magners League game of the season, back-to-back in to get to the next World Cup with a starting place in the team.”
December. The Stade ﬁ xture is reviving happy memories With Denis Leamy recovering from a shoulder operation,
of Ulster’s Heineken Cup opener two seasons ago, when Simon Easterby having retired from Test rugby and David
they trounced Toulouse 30-3. “That was on a Saturday Wallace, 32, in the twilight of his career, it’s a good time for the
afternoon at Ravenhill as well, so hopefully we can ﬁ nd young guns to claim a long-term spot in Ireland’s back row.
that same form,” says Ferris. “I’ve never played Stade Jamie Heaslip is favourite to play at No 8, having done so for
Catch me if you can: Ferris
Français and they have a lot of good players, so I’m looking part of the 2008 Six Nations, but Ferris has won caps at wants more Ireland caps
QUICK-FIRE PROFILE
Surprising fact about ruck: “What did your mum
yourself… I was Irish get you for Christmas?”
Name Stephen Ferris nice meal or walk the dog Schools javelin champion Another sport you’d like
Nickname The horse Childhood rugby hero Embarrassing moment to play professionally
Born 2 August 1985 (23) Jerry Collins [right]. He I made a break against the Something really easy like
Birthplace Lisburn dominated all the time Scarlets and tried to step snooker or darts, where
Marital status Girlfriend Most difﬁ cult opponent the full-back, but slipped you get paid a fortune for
Lauren Fabien Pelous, a very and nearly broke my leg walking around
Dish you like to cook hard man to get round Most amazing comment Best moment in rugby
Spaghetti bolognese Person you would you’ve heard on the ﬁ eld Winning my ﬁ rst cap in
To switch off from like to meet… [The Neil Best said to Malcolm the last International at
rugby I... Go out for a late] George Best O’Kelly at the bottom of a Lansdowne Road n
FERRIS MADE HIS IRELAND DEBUT IN 2006 AGAINST THE PACIFIC ISLANDERS AND NOW HAS FIVE CAPS + HE DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS LAID-BACK +
134 NOVEMBER 2008 RUGBY WORLD
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