Ulster will miss Stephen Ferris and BJ Botha
Ulster will be without the services of Stephen Ferris and BJ Botha after the two players were injured in the Magners League match with Connaught in Galway over the weekend.
It was confirmed that the South African Botha suffered ligament damage to his hand. The medical team initially feared that the forward had broken his hand, but results showed that the South African had badly damaged his ligaments. This will rule Botha out
for a few weeks at least. The South African has become crucial to Ulster this season particularly with the growing injury problems in the tight and loose-head positions.
The prop’s injury will cause the management team a number of problems. Props Declan Fitzpatrick and Adam Macklin are both out with injuries. Fitzpatrick has a calf tear which will rule him out for two months while Macklin has a broken ankle and will not
return for the Ulster side for the foreseeable future.
Ferris will be another worry with the flanker coming off after only 10 minutes of the match with Connaught. The player had to leave the field with an upper body injury and the results of tests have yet to be disclosed.
The two teams played out a 15-15 draw in the absence of Ferris and Willie Fallon was brought off the bench to replace the injured Irish international.
The injury may be the re-occurrence of a shoulder injury which forced the player out of the remaining games in the last Lions tour. If this is the case the player could be out for a long period of time.
Ferris will be a huge loss to both Ulster and Ireland, if he is ruled out for any length of time. The physicality and strength he brings to both sides will be sorely missed and neither club nor country have a replacement that bring these qualities to the
side.
Tags: