Dublin - Ireland backrow forward Stephen Ferris has been ruled out of the Test match against South Africa at Dublin's Lansdowne Road on Saturday because of an ankle injury.
A statement issued by the Irish Rugby Football Union said the 27-year-old Ferris, a veteran of 35 internationals, had suffered an ankle injury playing for Ulster on Friday and that the "scale" of the problem would keep him out of both the Springbok clash and the following week's non-cap game with Fiji in Limerick.
The IRFU added no decision had yet been made on Ferris's availability for the Test against Argentina at Lansdowne Road on November 24 with which Ireland will conclude their autumn series.