Stephen Ferris fears jobs could be on the line at Ulster if they can’t dig themselves out of a hole over the Christmas period.
The province have lost their last three games and the former Ravenhill favourite is not confident about their chances of beating Connacht in Galway on Friday, followed by Munster at Kingspan Stadium on New Year’s Day.
“Folding like a deckchair against Leinster has certainly had an effect on the team but there are a lot of players for Ulster that aren’t in form,” said Ferris.
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"It’s such an important time of the year to be in form. When you try too hard, you slip back into old habits, you aren’t doing your own job and you’re running around trying to do other people’s.
“We’ve got to get back on the horse quickly and it won’t get any easier with two big fixtures around the corner.”
Ulster must refocus their efforts after a damaging few weeks.
Having coasted to half-time against Leinster, they laboured in the second half – and were nilled for the full 80 minutes after the travel chaos of getting to Sale Sharks.
They looked to have turned things around with their second half performance against Champions Cup holders La Rochelle on Saturday, fighting back from being held scoreless in the first half to earn two losing bonus points against Ronan O’Gara’s side.
But Ferris insists the game was well and truly put to bed by half-time and that his former club’s problems remain as they seek to avoid a fourth defeat in a row.
“i’m worried about this Connacht game,” Ferris added. “Connacht made a raft of changes for the Challenge Cup and played some half decent stuff.
“I know they picked up a couple of injuries there but they can replace those guys ok.
“If they lose to Connacht and lose to Munster you’re talking about peoples’ jobs being on the line, that’s where it gets to very quickly.
“We all know pro sport can change in an instant.”
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