One F

[Neil F]

Last season, Ferris was superb; when he played, he was often the difference, especially in big games. The only word I can think of to describe the performance against Munster, for example, is epic. It was as epic a performance from a rugby player as I've ever seen. He wasn't swatting the opposition out of the way like flies but he was putting in big, hard tackles all over the park and hitting every ruck within a 20 metre radius.

This season, he has been less effective when he's played but I think there are reasons for that, and they go well beyond either a desire to stay injury free, where I strongly agree with you that this is not the case or a more general decline in performances. Ferris missed the summer tour and the start of this season because of injury; he had no pre-season and only return to the Ulster team in mid-September; he managed two games before getting injured again for another month, before he played against Edinburgh and... got injured again. I think, from that, it's impossible to say what performance levels he's capable of. Is it a dip in form, or more realistically, simply that he hasn't had a chance to get into his stride, again?

That's why the boxer image came to mind; a boxer that gets floored and tries to come out all guns blazing in response appears to be a worse boxer than he actually is, at least temporarily, because that boxer is making too much effort. That's how Ferris seems to me, now - he has had injury after injury and has only played for small pockets of time over the last two seasons. He is trying to come into an Ulster team doing well and lay down a marker, despite neither his body, or his mind, being at quite the required level to do so. For me, that is why we've seen a "dip" in form (although from three or four games in a season, I doubt that can really be inferred) and also why I think a year in Japan would do him the world of good.

[Bart S]

Thanks Neil, that was the point I was making, although looking back I did word it extremely poorly!

However, I would still say that Ferris isn't as good as he was. When he does play he definitely does not make the impact he did say 3-4 years ago and his injuries obviously don't help his long term prospects either. I don't agree he plays in an attempt to stay injury free but there is definitely something missing from his game.

It's a shame that he's on the slide when we're on the up. If he had his form from 3-4 years ago now then he'd be arguably the best player in the world.

I agree with some. Maybe give him one year out in Japan and then bring him back if that goes well? I still think he needs a year of "easy" rugby i.e. just short appearances, and then get him back into the game. It's just got to the stage where every time he comes back he gets injured again.

Ruck - what exactly are you basing that on?? He was superb last season and has hardly played this season.

If you said that you don't think he'll ever come back to be as good as he was then that's fair enough.

[Tevez]

I dont know 1F's domestic arrangements, but having spoken to NZ players about playing in Japan the big issue is the lack of social life outside rugby....particularly for wife/girlfriend....it's a very lonely place - particularly as you can't read the road signs, underground station names, shop names and so on.

Big money, easy rugby....in this case does not necessarily bring happiness....

[ruckover]

Thanks Neil, that was the point I was making, although looking back I did word it extremely poorly!

However, I would still say that Ferris isn't as good as he was. When he does play he definitely does not make the impact he did say 3-4 years ago and his injuries obviously don't help his long term prospects either. I don't agree he plays in an attempt to stay injury free but there is definitely something missing from his game.

It's a shame that he's on the slide when we're on the up. If he had his form from 3-4 years ago now then he'd be arguably the best player in the world.

I agree with some. Maybe give him one year out in Japan and then bring him back if that goes well? I still think he needs a year of "easy" rugby i.e. just short appearances, and then get him back into the game. It's just got to the stage where every time he comes back he gets injured again.

Ruck - what exactly are you basing that on?? He was superb last season and has hardly played this season.

If you said that you don't think he'll ever come back to be as good as he was then that's fair enough.

Apart from Munster and Clermont last season I would say he was good at best.

He won't ever be as good as he was.

[BuckRogers]

Thanks Neil, that was the point I was making, although looking back I did word it extremely poorly!

However, I would still say that Ferris isn't as good as he was. When he does play he definitely does not make the impact he did say 3-4 years ago and his injuries obviously don't help his long term prospects either. I don't agree he plays in an attempt to stay injury free but there is definitely something missing from his game.

It's a shame that he's on the slide when we're on the up. If he had his form from 3-4 years ago now then he'd be arguably the best player in the world.

I agree with some. Maybe give him one year out in Japan and then bring him back if that goes well? I still think he needs a year of "easy" rugby i.e. just short appearances, and then get him back into the game. It's just got to the stage where every time he comes back he gets injured again.

Ruck - what exactly are you basing that on?? He was superb last season and has hardly played this season.

If you said that you don't think he'll ever come back to be as good as he was then that's fair enough.

Apart from Munster and Clermont last season I would say he was good at best.

He won't ever be as good as he was.

In short, your hole.

Ferris is still the difference between Ulster being good, very good or fantastic. When fit he is essentially peerless in the NH and arguably world rugby.

The problem is he hasn't been fit and people start to forget just how brutally aggressive Ferris was and IMO still is.

We have done well to fill the gap left by him with the emergence of Hendrrson and signing Williams but we are poorer without him. Note that is not to say we are a poor side!

I think this is paper talk initiated by the snake oil salesman representative. Unless Japan are offering crazy money ulster should step up to the plate and offer the dough. That said Japanese clubs are throwing round money like the big French clubs so maybe he will go, who can blame him?

[damianmcr]

[Wee Woman]

Gusher on Radio Ulster tonight reporting that contract negotiations have not even been opened with the IRFU & not likely to be until Ferris is given a clean bill of health.

I think this is all a bit of agent bluster tbh. Start throwing Japan into the mix before negotiations start because they pay some of the highest wages in world rugby.

Gusher doesn't think he will go either.

[Dave]

What a load of nonsense Ruck. Ferris had one of his best seasons last year. Starting with the WC and in particular the Australiangame, remember him taking Genia for a wee jaunt? His early season Rabo form was excellent and he was terrorising backs hanging out in wider channels. He scored a cracker try against I think the Scarlets swating off a would be tackler before stepping the full back. He was a human wrecking ball in the AIs v Argentina. He was outstanding in HEC especially.against Clermont, Leceister and Munster. After the ankle injury in the 6N he lost form but he had an outstanding year. He will be back as physical as ever and hopefully for Ulster.

[Russ]

There's only 1 F in Ferris

[Rooster]

I dont know 1F's domestic arrangements, but having spoken to NZ players about playing in Japan the big issue is the lack of social life outside rugby....particularly for wife/girlfriend....it's a very lonely place - particularly as you can't read the road signs, underground station names, shop names and so on.

Big money, easy rugby....in this case does not necessarily bring happiness....

I know people who have been over there on business and said Tokyo was a bit of a novelty for the first few days and pretty exciting then after further visits was a boring and soulless place to go, strange customs etc and a total bitch of a place to go to which they hated and tried to stay away from

[rocky]

I can't believe that you lot are being so sanguine about the fate of one of the biggest and best (in every way) men to pull on a white shirt. IMHO, if he goes, we will never see him in a white shirt again - if you were basically told to **** away off, having given what he has for a club and a country, and found that you were well physically and earning a lot of dish, would you come back?
I think the big man has done enough to deserve another year, whether or not on a national contract. If he clearly isn't up to it after that, then fair enough, but not before, as far as I'm concerned.

[Snipe Watson]

Lot of supposition here. 1F is the finest home grown Ulster player since...............Steve Smith.
It is daft to comment on how good a player he is now as he hasn’t played for months so nobody knows, including him. If he gets fit again, there is no obvious reason why he shouldn’t be as good as ever, but it’s a.....IF

[Big-al]

It's a shame that I'm not concerned he's linked with a move away. Shows how much he's declined in a year or two.

Couldn't disagree me more.

The man is a legend, the best Ulster(born and bred) player I have witnessed in my lifetime, we'll be talking about his performances for many a year to come and it has been nothing short of a privilege to watch him beat teams (sometimes on his own) at Ravenhill. His loyalty to his province has been 2nd to none and I hope the IRFU/Ulster branch repay that loyalty by giving him a new contract, provided of course he recovers successfully from his recent operation. Only the medical specialists know if his body will ever be in good enough order to be able to play professional rugby so I hope they will be approached by the IRFU prior to making a final judgement and his contract.

[Neil F]

I can't believe that you lot are being so sanguine about the fate of one of the biggest and best (in every way) men to pull on a white shirt. IMHO, if he goes, we will never see him in a white shirt again - if you were basically told to **** away off, having given what he has for a club and a country, and found that you were well physically and earning a lot of dish, would you come back?
I think the big man has done enough to deserve another year, whether or not on a national contract. If he clearly isn't up to it after that, then fair enough, but not before, as far as I'm concerned.

Rocky; I doubt the issue is a lack of desire from either Ulster Rugby, or the IRFU, to award Ferris another contract. It appears that, should this move become a reality, it is based on Ferris maximising his expected income for the duration of his career. Personally speaking, I imagine Ferris will come back from this injury but he will come back to it on a much-reduced IRFU central contract than the one he is currently on. He may, or may not, last a full season or two but his luck with injuries suggest this will be a significant risk. The alternative is that he can go to Japan, play rugby in a league with lower-intensity and earn a huge sum of money. This isn't really about "loyalty" but about the maximisation of income. Given what he's given to Ulster and Irish rugby and the state of his body, I for one wouldn't begrudge Ferris that but I'd also rather that both Ulster and the IRFU looked to the future, rather than taking a big financial gamble on a player who may or may not return to full fitness. To me, the sacrifice for such a potentially short-term gain seems like a poor payoff for all concerned, including Ferris, who could earn significantly more, and presumably, have a longer career, in Japan.

[Big-al]

If playing in a lower league will pro-long his career then give him a few games for his club, Dungannon in the AIL and then reap the rewards in the Autumn!!!