The sight of Stephen Ferris being helped from the field by Davey Irwin at the start of the second half turned what had already been a bad week for Ireland fans into an absolute shocker. Having landed a little awkwardly on his right angle, the big fella from Maghaberry slipped when carrying into contact, aggravating the injury such that he needed assistance to hobble off the field. With Ireland due to face two of the world’s most physical sides this month and their 2015 World Cup seeding at stake, the reports of Fez’s badly swollen ankle must make really grim reading for Declan Kidney and his team. The only positive spin that I can put on the news is that O’Mahony must now start at 6 which should allow Chris Henry to get a well-deserved start at openside.
On a much brighter note, Ulster demonstrated remarkable strength in depth to despatch a game Edinburgh and notch up another bonus point win. This depth was underlined in the last scrum of the match. Ulster, with the returning Robbie Diack in the second row following an injury to the in-form Lewis Stevenson that forced him to depart just before half-time, packed down with Lutton, Annett and Macklin in the front row. Sporting only 28 senior appearances between then, 25 of them by Macklin, they demolished their opposition, which included veteran Scottish loosehead Allan Jacobsen and 2005 Lions tourist, Andy Titterrell. Macklin looked especially good, secure in the scrum and dynamic about the park.
In the second-row, Neil McComb had what must have been his best outing in an Ulster shirt. He more than matched the excellent Stevenson in the first half, and to this casual observer he seemed to make a lot of tackles. He also carried to great effect and with his height and bulk, looked an able deputy for Muller. Mike McComish, playing at openside, had another fine performance. He was everywhere and offered himself to carry again and again. But it was Roger Wilson who stole the show with a nigh-on perfect demonstration of how to play at No8, which deservedly earned him the man-of-the match award. Good though the monstrous Nick Williams is, for me Wilson is the better 8 and I would love to see him starting in the Heiny at Franklins Gardens next month, with Williams as the impact sub.
A mark of Wilson’s quality was that he beat the outstanding Craig Gilroy to the MOTM award. Every time the Bangor speedster got hold of the ball there was a frisson of excitement. He really is super-fast with lightening quick feet and the ability to spin out of tackles and run through heavy traffic. He made yards with every carry, set up the excellent Payne’s first try with a superb outside break and barged the Edinburgh blindside out of the way to get onto the end of Pienaar’s chip and score in the last play of the match. He looks every inch an international and surely it’s only a matter of time before he makes the stepup.
That Gilroy doesn’t get into our 1st XV shows just what depth there is and strongly suggests that Ulster will build on their outstanding start to the season. That they need to use the depth at 6 is bad news for Ireland, and particularly Stevie Ferris who must be gutted. I really hope he can end his miserable run of injuries and string some matches together so that he can resume his relationship with Will Genia next summer.
