RACING CERTAINTY?
Zebo looks set to join O’Gara in Paris
MUNSTER are to lose one of their biggest talents with the news that record-try scorer Simon Zebo will leave the province at the end of the season, with French side Racing 92 his likely destination. The Reds announced that, despite the best efforts of the province and the IRFU, they could not compete with the big money being offered for the Corkman’s services. Zebo, a fluent French speaker, has always made clear his desire to one day play his club rugby abroad, and is believed to have already signed a pre-contract agreement with Racing. Zebo will hook up with former Munster men, assistant coach Ronan O’Gara and second row Donnacha Ryan, who joined at the end of last season. Ireland coach Joe Schmidt will now have to plan without Zebo for the World Cup in 2019.
IT has long been on the cards, but yesterday’s announcement that Simon Zebo is to leave Munster at the end of the season has rocked a proud province to its core and will have massive implications for a number of players around the country.
The Cork flyer has never been shy about his desire to ply his trade outside of Ireland one day, and it is believed Zebo has already signed a pre-contract agreement with Racing 92, who were beaten 14-7 at Thomond Park in the Champions Cup at the weekend.
Despite the best efforts of both the province and the IRFU — along with private backing — in offering Zebo a significantly improved contract on his current deal, Munster CEO Garrett Fitzgerald explained that the move was ‘out of our hands on this occasion’.
It is yet another reminder that Irish provinces cannot compete with the massive salaries on offer from English and French clubs with fellow Top14 sides Lyon and Pau also said to be interested in Zebo’s signature. It is a worrying trend for Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt just two years out from the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
At just 27 years of age and in the prime of his career, Zebo has effectively ruled himself out of selection for that tournament given the IRFU’s policy of only selecting home based players for international duty — the irreplaceable Johnny Sexton being the only exception to that rule during his stint with Racing.
France always looked his likely destination as he is a fluent French speaker due to his father being a native of Martinique, a small Caribbean island that is an overseas region of France.
In a short statement, Zebo explained: ‘I have always noted the draw to play abroad one day, and in not taking this decision lightly I have decided on what’s best for my family.’
While Zebo will spend the remainder of the campaign fighting for the silverware that has escaped him during his time with Ireland and Munster — 2015 Six Nations success is his only professional medal — both teams will be forced to move on quickly.
Ireland boss Schmidt will have to plan without a player who is capable of producing an individual moment of magic. In the last few years that Zebo seemed to have finally secured the trust of Schmidt, having often found himself a fringe player during the early stages of the Kiwi’s tenure.
The upcoming November internationals provide Schmidt with a perfect opportunity to plan without Zebo, with Joey Carbery’s seemingly permanent switch to the No15 shirt at Leinster perhaps working in favour of the head coach.
If anything, Zebo looked well placed to hold onto the full-back position at international level given the ongoing injury problems that continue to dog Rob Kearney and Jared Payne.
Currently, the most natural inhouse replacements at Thomond Park are Andrew Conway and Darren Sweetnam who, like Zebo, are both comfortable at wing or full-back.
It also presents a massive opportunity for the Alex Wooten, who has only managed 14 appearances in red to date but should find first-team opportunities a little easier to come by in the absence of Zebo.
The move also opens up the possibility of Munster swooping for Connacht’s Tiernan O’Halloran or, finances permitting, a big overseas signing.
So, plenty to ponder for coaches at both Thomond Park and the IRFU, but in moving, Zebo has not only altered his own international prospects — but also some of the most exciting talents in Irish rugby.