Ferris and Humphreys add to Ulster woes for Gloucester test

ULSTER have been hit with a double whammy ahead of tonight’s opening Heineken Cup clash with Gloucester at Ravenhill. Flanker Stephen Ferris has been told he will be sidelined for up to six weeks while veteran fly-half David Humphreys is a major concern due to an ankle injury.

Ferris aggravated a knee injury against Glasgow last week, the same knee that required surgery following Ireland’s summer tour to Argentina.

Accordingly, coach Mark McCall has made three changes to his starting line-up, with Matt McCullough and number 8 Roger Wilson called into the back-row and Neil Best moved from blind to open-side flanker while Carlos del Fava replaces Ryan Caldwell in the second row.

But it is the injury to Humphreys that’s worrying McCall, who is coming under increasing pressure as his team stumble from pillar to post in the Magners League.

Paddy Wallace is ready to step into the breach, with Niall O’Connor on to the bench if Humphreys fails to come through a late fitness test. Defeat for Ulster will virtually end their season, and those wanting McCall to quit will quickly grow louder.

Nevertheless flanker Best is in no doubt the team will finally qualify out of their pool for the first time since they lifted the cup back in 1999.

“We will win tonight, and go through,” said Best. “Teams come to Ravenhill expecting to do well when we are on a low, but leave with their tails between their legs.

“This will be my third game since the World Cup and I’m slowly building up a head of steam. I will have to step up a gear, as will the team. We’ve something to prove to a few people.”

ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, R Dewey, M McCrea; D Humphreys / P Wallace, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, R Best (c), B Young, J Harrison, C Del Fava, M McCullough, N Best, R Wilson. Replacements: N Brady, D Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, K Dawson, K Campbell, D Humphreys/P Wallace/ N O’Connor, M Bartholomeusz. GLOUCESTER: I Balshaw; J Simpson-Daniel, M Tindall, A Allen, L Vainikolo; R Lamb, R Lawson; N Wood, O Azam, C Nieto, P Buxton (capt), A Brown, A Strokosch, A Qera, L Narraway.

Replacements: A Titterrell; C Califano, M Bortolami, G Delve, M Prendergast, Chris Paterson, O Morgan.