Ferris setting the pace in Test race

The Magners League star raced 60 metres to score on his debut against the Golden Lions last week and then went 30 metres to notch another breakaway in the 26-24 triumph over the Cheetahs at the weekend.

Both tries were classic pieces of opportunism, but Ferris is sharing the credit with his fitness and conditioning coach, Jonny Davis.

Davis is a former Ulster player and Irish Schools sprint champion who worked with Ferris on his pace before he joined up with the Lions. The extra work seems to have paid off.

"Jonny used to be one of the best sprinters in Ireland and he has been working hard on my technique and pace. We were working hard before I came out here and it's paying off.

"It was a bit of déjà vu for me from last Wednesday with the try against the Cheetahs, although fortunately I only had to run in 30-40 metres this time.

"Hopefully, I can keep getting my hands on the ball and making impacts. It was a good feeling to score the try, and we got off to a good start, but unfortunately we weren't able to build on that."

Ferris also scooped the man of the match award on Saturday to turn up the heat on his back row rivals Joe Worsley and Tom Croft for the No 6 jersey in the Test series.