RUGBY: Case of Les Bleus for Ferris
STEPHEN Ferris is set to miss out again for Ireland in their Six Nations Championship clash with France on Saturday.
A bruised bone injury looks set to keep him out once again from what many are expecting to be the Championship decider this season.
Neither Ireland or France excelled in their predictable opening wins against Italy and Scotland respectively.
And both will expect to lift their games for what is the big game.
While Ferris, was one Ulsterman not on the plane, Andrew Trimble was also a slight doubt last night.
After a useful performance against the Italians in a 29-11 win, Trimble was replaced in the second half with a hamstring problem.
Ireland coach, Declan Kidney said the Ulster winger had suffered a tightening in the hamstring.
"Like all injuries, it is always hard to know just after a match how things will go.
"Certainly Andrew and Ronan (O'Gara), who took a bang to the knee, Paul (O'Connell), who suffered a bang to the eye, were not presenting themselves as major injruy concerns.
"But we will let the medical team do their job and see how everything goes."
Certainly O'Gara and O'Connell were expected to be fit to travel.
And injured outhalf, Jonathan Sexton, who sat out the Italian game, was also expected to be in today's panel
That could be bad news for Paddy Wallace. Although the Ulster centre - who was outhalf cover against Italy - impressed when he came on, it Sexton was fit, Wallace could miss out even on a bench place depending on how Kidney plays his hand.
The other player expected to make a return to the panel is lock, Donncha O'Callaghan.
The Munster player was an eleventh hour withdrawal, but was on course to make the panel today.
Meanwhile, France coach Marc Lievremont has named an unchanged squad for the Stade de France clash.
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Weather for Belfast
Monday 13 February 2012
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