After a succession of injuries that have interrupted his international career, Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris is determined to make the most of his inclusion in Ireland's World Cup campaign. He talks to Niall Crozier in the Irish Independent.
"When Stephen Ferris was awarded a commemorative cap for Ireland's ill-fated 2007 World Cup campaign, it meant nothing to him.
"I didn't earn it, so I gave it to my mum," he says. His rejection of it is understandable, for he never played a minute in the 2007 World Cup. On the plus side, no guilt for Ireland's abject failure could be attached to the barnstorming Ulster flanker.
"Four years on, it looked like Ferris might be in for another gutting World Cup experience, with his fitness following yet more knee surgery making him a major doubt. But not having played since January 22, finally on Saturday against France he got a run-out for the last 20 minutes. That was enough to persuade Ireland coach Declan Kidney to gamble on him being ready for the rigours of the World Cup. On Monday, when the party for New Zealand was unveiled, Ferris was one of the 30."
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