McLaughlin allays fears over Ferris injury

ULSTER coach Brian McLaughlin put Ireland boss Declan Kidney’s mind at ease after star flanker Stephen Ferris hobbled off in Saturday’s 43-6 Heineken Cup success over Aironi but insisted afterwards there is little cause for concern.

“I think he’s just taken a bit of a bang on his knee but there are no problems there at all. We only took him off as a precautionary measure,” he said.

The injury-prone Ferris was replaced in the 57th minute at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, sparking fears his participation in the Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on February 5 may be in jeopardy.