Young stars get back to basics after dramatic debut

FOR Luke Fitzgerald and Stephen Ferris, it has been a dizzyingly rapid ascent. But having reached the pinnacle of Irish rugby with their international debuts at the weekend, both have their feet firmly back on the ground.

A few months ago, they may have entertained thoughts of Croke Park, maybe even the World Cup. It is unlikely either dreamed of winning a first cap in the last international at the old heap that is Lansdowne Road.

The tale of how Fitzgerald was still playing schools rugby this time last year is familiar by now. But Ferris’ rise has been just as meteoric if far less easy to track. This is, after all, a man who only started playing rugby at the age of 13.

Last week, the speed with which he has arrived in Eddie O’Sullivan’s dressing room was put in perspective. The Ulster back row told of spending his first visit to Lansdowne playing with the toilet rolls chucked onto the pitch by some of the crowd.

“I was actually talking to Girvan about it in the showers after the game. That was his first cap — ‘98 against Georgia. Good memories of this place,” said the 21-year old. “I never thought I’d be in this position a couple of years ago but I’ve come along and enjoyed every minute of it.”

He enjoyed the lap of honour at the end and with Paul O’Connell giving him his jersey to swap with a Pacific

Islander, Ferris will have two uniforms from his international bow hanging on his sitting-room wall.

“There’s that many good memories. I suppose the best was when I was standing in line singing the anthem. I just looked up and my brother was standing directly in front of me in the stand and he just gave me a sort of a wee wink. That was great and all my mates and family were there as well.”

With Ulster, Ferris is usually instructed to go hell for leather for the bones of an hour before being called ashore. Eddie O’Sullivan elected to give him the full 80 minutes on Sunday to prove himself.

Like Fitzgerald and fellow back row new boy Jamie Heaslip, the man from Maghaberry didn’t let anyone down, but he knows he needs to continue turning heads in Ravenhill if he is to add to his first international cap.

“The next five weeks is a serious test for us. We have Leinster home and away, London Irish back-to-back and Connacht are in there as well. I’ll have to be right on top of our games because Ulster’s back row is just as competitive as Ireland’s at the minute. If you’re not on top of your game you’ll be out. You just have to keep working hard and playing well.”

Leinster’s Fitzgerald is in the same boat. Though he has already blown out of the water all expectations as to the amount of game time he would get in his first season, he has no illusions as to his place in the provincial system.

“The task for me at the moment is to try and get into the Leinster squad,” said the former Blackrock man. “You see the amount of Leinster backs here in the Irish squad, there’s a huge Leinster involvement there. Being involved at interprovincial level is going to be hard enough for me and that’s my focus for the immediate future.”

Sunday will remain long in the memory though, as the day he emulated his father Des by pulling on the green shirt. When he will win his second is a moot point but, injuries permitting, he is sure to get many more.

Where he will earn them is another question. Against the Islanders he began the afternoon on the right wing before being pulled back into the full-back slot after Dempsey left the field injured.

He also played at out-half and centre in his school days, but it is at 15 that many see his future and Fitzgerald professed himself more comfortable there after his debut at the weekend.

“There is that added pressure there and there are a few more jobs to be done but, as the game progressed we got further ahead. They threw caution to the wind and I got a few tackles in. I thought I got more comfortable in the second half knowing that.”