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Former Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris has hit out at the hardline stance taken by Joe Schmidt and the IRFU which has resulted in both Simon Zebo and Tadhg Beirne being omitted from the coach’s Six Nations squad.

Former Ulster favourite Stephen Ferris has again rounded on his former team after they were bounced out of Europe with a dismal 31-19 defeat at the hands of Exeter on Sunday.

Stephen Ferris has insisted that Ireland must do their utmost to avoid suffering a rout at the hands of New Zealand at Soldier Field on Saturday.

THE impact of last Saturday’s defeat to England would still have been painful for the Irish players come Monday, writes Ronan O’Gara

The ghosts of 2007 don’t exactly haunt the corridors of Ireland’s stately home at Carton House, but valuable lessons have been learned from that shuddering World Cup experience of eight years ago.

Ahead of Ireland’s Rugby World Cup campaign, which will kick-off against Canada next Saturday, former international flankers Stephen Ferris and Alan Quinlan have raised concerns about the lack of physicality in Joe Schmidt’s side.

Former Munster and international back rower Alan Quinlan believes that Ireland can learn a lot of lessons from what happened in the build-up to the 2007 World Cup as they prepare for this season’s tournament.

As his broadcast from his private jet earlier this month proved beyond doubt, Rory McIlroy’s bank manager has little reason to worry about the world number’s one golfer’s balance.

Injury curtailed Stephen Ferris’s rugby career but the former Ulster star is far from bitter, writes Michael Moynihan

The latest rugby season may still be in its infancy but thoughts turn temporarily to the 2015 World Cup for now, given it all gets underway this very day next year, when England face Fiji at Twickenham in the tournament’s opening gambit.

Ireland’s most-capped hooker, Rory Best, has been handed the captaincy of Ulster for a second time.

With wallets stuffed and kidneys steeled, thousands of punters flocked to Ballybrit for the opening day of the annual madness that is the Galway Races.

Retired Ireland rugby ace Stephen Ferris has revealed that his career-ending crocked ankle also put a strain on his relationship with long-term partner Laura McNally.

Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris has been forced to retire after the ankle problem that sidelined him for 16 months struck again.

Ulster and Ireland back-row forward Stephen Ferris has retired from professional rugby.

With just 14 Tests left to play before Ireland open their World Cup campaign against Canada at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on September 19, 2015, Joe Schmidt will take great care in selecting his squad for the forthcoming series against Argentina.

Ulster are sweating on the fitness of their front-row ahead of Friday’s big Irish derby when the visit of Leinster hails the official opening of the rejuvenated Ravenhill stadium where there will be a capacity of 17,500 in attendance.

Tommy Bowe will start at outside-centre for Ulster against Connacht at Ravenhill tomorrow evening, (kick off 19:05).

Rod Nawn rates the Ulster men in a Payne-less game.

Springbok Ruan Pienaar is back and primed to help guide Ulster through their difficult Heineken Cup quarter-final shoot-out with Saracens at Ravenhill tomorrow (6.30pm).

Shane Logan and David Humphreys are overseeing a radical overhaul of Ulster rugby and its future ambitions — the physical manifestation of which is a €40m refit of Ravenhill, writes Rod Nawn.

Tom Court has never earned a piece of silverware in eight seasons with Ulster, but the prop’s experiences as part of Ireland’s 2009 Grand Slam-winning squad tells him that may be about to change.

Cardiff 28 Ulster 23

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Ulster loosehead prop, Tom Court, will make his 150th appearance for Ulster in tomorrow’ RaboDirect PRO12 match against Cardiff Blues.

Stephen Ferris will start his second successive game when Ulster take on the Cardiff Blues on the Arms Park 4G pitch tomorrow.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Ireland only have five realistic chances to blood new players ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2015 run-in, according to boss Joe Schmidt.

Just imagine for a second if Ireland had managed to close out that agonising end game against New Zealand last November.

Like a young rock band bursting onto the scene full of blistering bravado, Joe Schmidt’s new Ireland have made their splash on the rugby landscape.

Ireland sealed the deal to claim only our second Six Nations title in dramatic fashion at Paris on Saturday night but the long-term benefits we will derive from winning a tight game will stand to this side.

Paul O’Connell demonstrated just what a very special man he is on and off the pitch at the Stade de France on Saturday. As captain, leader, strategist and unrelenting ball carrier, the Young Munster man has no equal.

Ulster 26 Scarlets 13

It’s amazing how people react to a result. Regardless of a win, loss or draw it’s usually an over reaction.

Lions and Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris is poised to return to competitive action after a frustrating 15 month recovery from a serious ankle injury.

Nick Williams’ contract at Ulster appears to be under serious threat after being pulled out of this week’s squad to face the Dragons at Ravenhill.

England and Ireland. Triple Crown at stake. Grand Slam still in the offing.

Triple Crowns weren’t high on the agenda when Jonathan Sexton began life as an international but the Racing Metro out-half would dearly love to claim the honour when Ireland face England at Twickenham on Saturday week.

Rory Best took one look at the X-ray and feared his goal of finding fitness for the RBS 6 Nations might be just out of reach.

HEINEKEN CUP POOL 5:

Stephen Ferris has signed a new short-term contract with Ulster and hopes to be fully recovered from major ankle surgery to return to action next month.

Treviso 3 Ulster 35