SIX NATIONS:Stephen Ferris is determined to secure his place in Irish sporting history in tomorrow's Six Nations title-decider against Wales and is not fazed by the sense of occasion.
Ireland arrive at the Millennium Stadium looking to add to their solitary Grand Slam of 1948 while Wales must prevail by at least 13 points to retain their crown.
“I’m not particularly fazed by what’s at stake. I’ve heard a few rumours about how long it has been since Ireland last won a Grand Slam,” Ferris said.
“I haven’t been in the game that long and I’m a very privileged man to be in the position that I am at the moment.
“I wake up every day and realise that. Hopefully we can make a bit of history. It’s a big day for us.”
Ferris has been a key component in the march for honours and the Ulster hardman is enjoying his duties as one of Ireland’s main ball carriers.
“Paul O’Connell is the go-to man if things get tough but I’ve helped him out a few times in the last couple of weeks,” he said.
“It’s a team game and everybody helps but Paul always gives that extra little bit and I’ve tried to be beside him and carry as much ball as possible.”
Munster dominate Ireland’s pack - Leinster number eight Jamie Heaslip is the only other player not from the province in the forwards - and Ferris believes he has won their admiration.
“There’s a lot of Munster guys in the pack but I’ve just seemed to slip right in there,” he said.
“I think that every time I play against Munster I earn their respect. I play hard and they play hard and we shake hands at the end of the game.”
Meanwhile, Ireland have refused to be drawn into a war of words with Wales coach Warren Gatland.
Gatland declared on Tuesday that “out of all the teams in the Six Nations, the Welsh players dislike the Irish the most” and questioned Ireland’s temperament in big matches.
Paul McNaughton, Ireland’s team manager, shrugged off Gatland’s attempts to crank up the pressure on his side and insisted his remarks would not be used as motivation.
“There seems to be a lot of stuff coming out of Wales. I’ve read some of it. I don’t have any response to it really,” he said.
“The only thing I can say about the Irish and the Welsh is that the Irish players certainly respect the Welsh.”
