Positive news on Bowe and Ferris
Both men have knee complaints but their spirits were fittingly high in the Guinness Gravity Bar on James’ Street as they delivered impromptu medical updates in between the day’s promotional duties.
Bowe’s complaint surfaced during the Christmas period and led to him being rested for the Ospreys’ last Heineken Cup pool match against Toulon at the Liberty Stadium over the weekend.
“It’s hopefully okay,” he explained. “I’m going to see a specialist (today) in Chester, a guy who is meant to be pretty au fait with the ins and outs of knees but I don’t think it’s anything too serious.”
The Monaghan man expects to take part in training with the rest of the Ireland squad in Limerick later this week and is confident of being fit for the Italy opener. He may yet be joined in the first XV by Ferris.
The Ulster flanker had his own scan yesterday on a knee which was damaged during the win against Aironi on Sunday afternoon and which is already devoid of cartilage after previous injury issues.
“I knew straight away,” he said of the incident which caused it. “I went ‘oh, no, I’ve done the same knee again’.
“I was quite worried at the time but 48 hours later I’m feeling a bit of improvement so that’s always a good sign.”
The hope is that it is nothing more serious than a twisted joint and Kidney will be relieved to hear of both updates given the concerns that already linger over key personnel in the back row and the back three.
Ireland are well served in the former sector but, with Jamie Heaslip’s ankle proving to be a stubborn healer, the former Munster coach could do without more sleepless nights over another of his key men there.
The same applies with Bowe, whose importance to Ireland’s back line has been elevated still further by the absences of both Rob Kearney and Geordan Murphy at full-back for the foreseeable future.
Bowe has made his name as a wing in recent seasons but he played most of his underage rugby in the number 15 shirt and has fulfilled the same role with the Ospreys on occasion though not this season.
He had much to discuss in Dublin with Ferris aside from their respective plights. The first order of business was a handshake from the Ospreys man and a hearty congratulations on Ulster’s qualification for the Heineken quarter-finals.
The irony is that Bowe left the province two years ago to further his career ambitions with an Ospreys side that was eliminated from both European competitions on Sunday.
There has been considerable talk lately of others following in his footsteps by moving abroad but the IRFU has signed up a number of high-profile players in recent weeks. The Welsh resident can see the benefit of both paths.
“It’s a very difficult decision. There’s lots of money on the table in France but it was always just a case for me of getting away and trying something different … I can see where they are coming from but, at the same time, there are a huge amount of positives with the player welfare programme and staying at home.”
Added to that list of positives is the continued rude health of Irish rugby at provincial level, as evidenced by Ulster’s rebirth and an April date with Aviva Premiership high-flyers the Northampton Saints. Franklin’s Gardens is a daunting venue for any visitor but it is expected that the English side will switch the Ulster tie to the MK Don’s stadium and Ferris will have few complaints if they do.
He is already delighted that Ulster have avoided a trip to France given the fact that Ulster have yet to win there in the Heineken Cup.
“Yeah, it’s better than France. We drew with Toulouse six years ago but in England the monkey is off our backs because we’ve beaten Bath away in successive seasons. Hopefully we can do our job. There’s serious confidence in Ulster at the minute, we’re playing good stuff.”
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