Stephen Ferris has reservations over Ulster’s title credentials

Ulster have won all eight games domestically this season and go into the festive Irish derbies three points clear of Leinster at the top of Conference B, although Leo Cullen’s side have a game in hand.

Ferris, capped 35 times by Ireland and a pundit on Premier Sports, believes the two European defeats against Toulouse and Gloucester is a truer reflection of where Ulster are at.

“I think it was a wake up call because Ulster have only had a couple away on international duty whereas the teams they have been playing, like Glasgow and Scarlets, have had so many players away,” stated Ferris.

“I think it is a bit of a reality check as to exactly where Ulster are, Europe has been a bit of a backward step but the season in general hasn’t.

“I do feel fans when they see Ulster go unbeaten for the first number of games in the Pro14 get ahead of themselves, that is a natural thing for the fans to do, I don’t believe Ulster are as good as what people think.

“I think the last two games has shown that, they are better than the average side but I don’t think they are going to win trophies that that is where Dan (McFarland) has to take them to win a Pro14.

“He will certainly think he has the side to do that this season but if there is one or two injuries, I don’t think they will win the Pro14 this season and that is the job that him and his coaching staff have got.”

Ulster travel to Connacht on Sunday evening looking for a first win in Galway in five years.

“Ulster have a chance to right a few wrongs from Gloucester when they travel away to Connacht this weekend,” added Ferris.

“Connacht are evolving they have a lot of young guys coming through the system there.

“They seem to be stepping up to the mark and they had a brilliant performance away to Racing 92 which will give them a lot of confidence.

“You look at this Ulster side unbeaten everybody blowing smoke up their backsides and they could easily get beat by Connacht, then you have Munster at home and Leinster away, if things don’t go your way you could be at potentially losses five in a row.

“This weekend is going to be a huge test, hopefully the weather will hold up and we’ll see a bit more running rugby like we have the last few weeks.”

While the festive interpros have been diluted by squad rotation over the last number of years Ferris always looked forward to the clashes when he was playing.

“It was slightly different 10 to 15 years ago when both teams were full bore,” he said.

“We were playing Leinster at home and you would have Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Shane Horgan, Denis Hickie, Malcolm O’Kelly all these lads were playing but it seems now that the provinces just target their home fixtures.

“Then for the away fixtures they send a slightly weakened side to give them experience of those derbies.

“As a player I relished them coming up against lads that you were in competition with for the Irish jersey, having fun while you were playing.

“It was just good times wearing an Ulster jersey coming up against other provinces, there seemed to be a little bit more of an edge in those games.”

“Has that edge disappeared? I think it has but in the last year or two it seems to be coming back again with fire in the belly of some of the young lads and some of the games have been really tight.”

“I always looked forward to it and it was a great marker to see where you were at in the pecking order when you came up against your opposite number.”