Why Stephen Ferris going to Japan is good

There's rumours that Stephen Ferris has been approached by a Japanese club, and twitter seems all doom and gloom about it.

There should be no doom and gloom. This is a great idea and will benefit all parties. Here's why.

Stephen Ferris:
From a financial point of view, playing in Japan is going to earn Ferris big bucks. But more than that, from a playing style, Japanese rugby is far less physical than the Rabo and the Heineken Cup. And a year away from that given Fez's injury woes would do him the world of good. It might even prolong his career.

There have been doubts as to whether he'll be able to come back, and how effective he can be from this latest injury. He plays such a physical game that he can't last much longer. A year in Japan will mean he can get back to match fitness in an less demanding environment and be able to return to Ulster and Ireland for the World Cup in 2015.

And as Tameti Ellison, Brad Thorn and George Smith have proved, you can come back and be just as effective after playing in Japan.


Ulster & Ireland:
Stephen Ferris is nigh on irreplaceable. When he plays, he is a colossus for club and country. It's just that he doesn't play very often, and both Ulster and Ireland have had to plan without him for large periods over the last 4 years. So while he would be a big loss, he's been a big loss already and Ulster seem to be dominating without him.

Financially, it means that the IRFU has more money in the coffers, or that someone else is going to get a centralised contract, which means that one of the provinces retains more money.

Above all else, having Stephen Ferris fit, and turning world class superstars into teddy bears again is what all Irish fans want to see. And this would be the best option for all involved to see that happen again, and for as long as possible. Japanese rugby would no doubt be getting a fantastic player, and one who if he doesn't go, may not last too much longer. This is a great idea, and should happen.

Super Rugby teams Round 5

BYE: AUCKLAND BLUES, MELBOURNE REBELS, DSL STORMERS

Friday, March 15

Otago Highlanders v Wellington Hurricanes 6:35

Highlanders: 15. Ben Smith, 14. Kade Poki, 13. Jason Emery, 12. Phil Burleigh, 11. Hosea Gear, 10. Colin Slade, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Elliot Dixon, 7. John Hardie, 6. Joe Wheeler, 5. Jarrad Hoeata, 4. Brad Thorn, 3. Chris King, 2. Andrew Hore (c), 1. Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: 16. Brayden Mitchell, 17. Ma’afu Fia, 18. Jake Paringatai, 19. TJ Ioane, 20. Fumiaki Tanaka, 21. Lima Sopoaga, 22. Buxton Popoalii.

Hurricanes: 15 James Marshall, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben May, 2 2. Motu Matu'u / Ash Dixon, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 tbc, 17 Reggie Goodes/Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 James Broadhurst, 19 Faifili Levave, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Tusi Pisi, 22 Andre Taylor.

NSW Waratahs v Free State Cheetahs 8:40

Waratahs: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Peter Betham, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Pat McCutcheon, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 John Ulugia, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Luke Holmes, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Mitchell Chapman, 19 Lopeti Timani, 20 Matt Lucas, 21 Ben Volavola, 22 Rob Horne.

Cheetahs: 15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Willie Le Roux, 13. Johan Sadie, 12. Robert Ebersohn, 11. Raymond Rhule, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Philip van der Walt, 7. Lappies Labuschagne, 6. Frans Viljoen, Francois Uys, 4. Lodewyk De Jager, Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Adriaan Strauss, 1. Trevor Nyakane.

Replacements: 16. Ryno Barnes, 17. Coenie Oosthuisen, 18. Ligtoring Landman, 19. Heinrich Brussow, 20. Piet van Zyl, 21. Riaan Smit, 22. Ryno Benjamin.

Southern Kings v Waikato Chiefs 17:10

Kings: 15 SP Marais, 14 Marcello Sampson, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Wimpie van der Walt, 6 Cornell du Preez, 5 Steven Sykes, 4 Darron Nell (c), 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Jaco Engels, 18 David Bulbring, 19 Daniel Adongo, 20 Nicolas Vergallo, 21 George Whitehead, 22 Hadleigh Parkes.

Chiefs: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Andrew Horrell, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Ross Filipo, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Michael Fitzgerald, 4 Craig Clarke (c), 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Brodie Retallick, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Augustine Pulu, 21 Charlie Ngatai, 22 Patrick Osborne.

Saturday, March 16

Canterbury Crusaders v Blue Bulls 6: 35

Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Johnny McNicholl, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Dominic Bird, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Tyler Bleyendaal, 22 Adam Whitelock.

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Jürgen Visser, 10 Mornè Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Pierre Spies (c), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandrè Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Mornè Mellett.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Jacques Potgieter, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Jan Serfontein.

Queensland Reds v Western Force 8:40

Reds: 15. Jono Lance, 14. Luke Morahan, 13. Anthony Faingaa, 12. Ben Tapuai, 11. Chris Feauai- Sautia, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Will Genia (c), 8. Jake Schatz, 7. Liam Gill, 6. Ed Quirk, 5. Rob Simmons, 4. Ed O'Donoghue, 3. James Slipper, 2. Saia Faingaa, 1. Greg Holmes.

Replacements: 16. James Hanson, 17. Anae, 18. Radike Samo, 19. Butler, 20. Nick Frisby, 21. Mike Harris, 22. Toua

Force: tbc

Natal Sharks v ACT Brumbies 15:05

Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Keegan Daniel (c), 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Beast Mtawarira.Subs: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Cobus Reinach, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Lwazi Mvovo

Brumbies: 15. Jesse Mogg, 14. Henry Speight, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Christian Lealilifano, 11. Joe Tomane, 10. Matt Toomua, 9. White. 8. Fotu Auelia, 7. George Smith, 6. Ben Mowen (c), 5. Sam Carter, 4. Peter Kimlin, 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16. Silivia Silivia, 17. Ruadhri Murphy, 18.  Scott Fardy, 19. Colby Faingaa, 20. Ian Prior, 21. Robbie Coleman, 22. Clyde Rathbone