Munster, Ulster craic just great, says Ferris

Stephen Ferris says the Ulster and Munster players in the Ireland camp have not yet cranked up the slagging ahead of April’s Heineken Cup quarter-final.

“Not really, it is more congratulations to everyone on doing well. Everyone has to forget it for the next six weeks because we’ll be playing together, building a team and building confidence for the 6 Nations. But when the final whistle goes in Twickenham I’m sure there’ll be a few slags.

“There’s a bit of crack at dinner, but Munster and Ulster are looking forward to it. It’ll be a great occasion for Irish rugby – it’s been a while since Ulster and Munster have had such a titanic clash. It’ll should be intriguing.”

Ferris hopes the provinces good form in the Heineken Cup will continue into the international realm.

“Coming into Ireland camp with three of the provinces in the last eight of the competition is fantastic. It bodes well for Irish rugby and going into the Six Nations everyone’s confident.”

The back row added that while Declan Kidney has the ability to be Lions coach, he is focused on the job in hand.

“He’s a great coach but I don’t think he is looking past the Six Nations. There is no doubt he has the potential to step in there and do a job for the Lions tour but there are other candidates there sticking their hands up for the job. We just have to go out there and get a good Six Nations behind us to give him every chance of getting that job.”