Stephen Ferris scores a powerful try against the Scarlets

24 Comments

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  stroudos

  Can't take credit for that comment mate, but I do agree. In fact, I'm increasingly subsrcibing to the school of thought that says put him anywhere and he'll do a job for you. *Troll alert* Probably his best position would be the one that keeps his eyeballs furthest away from wandering French index fingers.......

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  He had some powerful displays for Leinster at 8 last year when Heaslip was out (both Clermont games I think). And while I'm in Aussieland, I'm still following team selections and believe he played there within the last 2 games. I have read interviews with him from when he started getting noticed (he also played there when the u20s won the slam in 07) and he does see himself as an 8. I just can't see Leinster or particularly Ireland dropping Heaslip and tring this out. Just like Bowe at 12, its not going to happen with conservative coaches in place. Its the same old story we have come to expect with the Irish teams, let the player play his way back to form, even if it takes whole seasons. Hell, try Ferris at 8, which he has done too, to follow on from stroudos' comment.

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  mise

  @besthookertown: The irish provinces are starting to bring people through now in the 2nd and back rows, tfb. Its up to the international team to start playing them. @huh - has SOB been tried at 8 ? Or is it just that you reckon his style would suit it?

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  marcher87

  Yeah there's no doubt we have a bit of a crisis at second row, we over rely on O'Callaghan and O'Connell, and Cullen does not have the athleticism required for international rugby. Heaslip seems to be coming back to is best, he can be an incredibly intelligent layer on the ball when on form. whether or not heaslip is kept, we need to develop an out and out young 7, and blood new young second rows. O'Connell is still the man, but we rely on him a fierce amount! I think the Ferris idea works because it moves O'Brien away from 7 (he's not a 7 at all!) gives us a much needed athelticism in the front 5, and allows for a more balanced back row with the introduction of a natural openside (like Wales have)

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  modeselektor

  There is also a strong argument circling for his inclusion as a Mike Phillips style 9!

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  stroudos

  Before I start, there is absolutely no way I'd have stopped Ferris without seriously injuring myself so take this with a large shovel of salt: I find the best thing to do if you're the last man in defence is get yourself on the balls of your feet so you're able to quickly respond to any change of direction and as the bastard approaches start to take tiny backward steps. This helps keep your centre of gravity forward so you'll be able to make a solid hit and, more importantly, buys you a little bit of time and space. Side-steps are so effective because you're forcing the defender to commit himself; if you're defending and can make the attacker commit first at least you can get your bodyweight into the tackle in the right direction. Oh and watch the movement of his eyes and hips - the eyes can be a giveaway but he can also trick you by looking one way and running the other; the hips cannot lie and they dictate which direction the body ultimately moves. All of that sage advice of course is fairly useless if you're tasked with stopping a fucking great lump like Ferris running at full tilt 5m out from the try line and having the audacity to bloody side-step you.

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  stroudos

  Well I suppose it shows the versatility and all-round talent of the player that we have someone on here calling for him to be played in the second row and another calling for him to play at outside centre!!!

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  marcher87

  I think he should be moved into the second row, and become an enforcer type figure in the Irish pack. A lot of journalists in Ireland (as well as Conor O'Shea, head coach at harlequins) have called for this to be done. At 6 foot 4, he wouldn't be the tallest second row going, but it has been proven before that certain types of bulky, 6'3" plus powerful backrowers can become world class second row forwards. I think he would be a very similar player to Brad Thorn, but better! Therefore, we can have O'Brien at 6, Heaslip at 8, and a fetcher at 7, such as munster's Peter O'Mahony, or maybe Shane Jennings? also, If Leinster's Dominic Ryan is given game time at Leinster this year, I think he could become a serious operator at 7, has all the attributes of a Warburton type player, and still very young My Irish Pack 1. Healy 2. Best 3. Ross 4. Ferris 5. O'Connell 6 O'Brien 7. O'Mahon 8. Heaslip

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  alandownunder

  A shame the defender had no intention of defending. Not even a turnstile. A gimme, but impressively taken all the same.

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  irish_ape

  Absolute animal, and a joy to watch! Great to see him in such good form, hope he keeps it up......

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  mdunlop9

  YES RUGBYDUMP! Thank you! I posted this all over the facebook page this week, haha, "Train without a station" immense player!

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  lnd

  :D why not! Great to see pro 12 higlights on the site!

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  askelkana

  Well, yes and no. Everyone has ankles do they not?

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  coops

  Absolute sit down on the covering defender - the man is a bison!

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  coops

  The only problem with that is that you have a pretty one-dimensional back row - they are all exceptional ball carriers (with Ferris and O'Brien ahead of Heaslip) but the Welsh back row showed it up with their carrier, grafter and scavenger combo. I worry for Ireland that the question will become how to fit O'Brien and Ferris into the same team unless, as has been mentioned, one starts playing 8.

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  jeroz

  intelligence, strength and agility all in one movement this try is really fine

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  modeselektor

  Great to watch. When BOD finally gets put out to stud, sure just stick Ferris at 13 for Ireland and let him do some of this

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  Personally mise, I think O'Brien should be playing 8. While Heaslip hasn't done a thing for Ireland for 18 months he won't be dropped, so the solution should be 6 Ferris, 7 Heaslip and O'Brien 8. Heaslip probably is the closest to a 7 out of the 3 anyway. Now Ire have a better scrum, a more explosive 8 is needed. Heaslip doesn't seem to know what to do in this circumstance. Great try by the way. I think Ferris' thoughts were, "oh look, as I go for a leisurely jog, a fly landed on my shoulder, I shall remove him....".

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  ulsterjoey

  Amazing pace from the big man, Ravenhill is such a dark, muddy fortress, tries like that are hard. Would love to see a round up of Paul Marshall that night, had a stormer of a match!

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  juggernauter

  I'll take that as a compliment

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  rugby08

  What an effing monster cant see many backs that would have stopped him there.

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  mise

  immaturity finds many ways stubby, but there's always hope! Well taken score, great to see that mobility and strength - bad ball to start with! Pity both himself and Sean O Brien cover 6 eh?

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  stubby

  I notice know the lack of immature initial comments now that people are no longer anonymous trolls. Good job RD. big man can move

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  juggernauter

  Brilliant.

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