SIMON’S SIMPLE PLAN
Zebo knows performing for Reds will catch Andy’s eye
SIMON ZEBO says he is ready and willing to do a job for Ireland if Andy Farrell needs him.
It is remarkable that Zebo has not played at Test level since June 2017.
He moved to Racing 92 from Munster ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, but there was a whole season before that when he played for his province but was not picked by Joe Schmidt during that time.
Zebo spent three years in Paris, where the IRFU’S ban on players abroad representing Ireland kept him out of the picture, and the Corkman has been plagued by injury since his return to Munster.
He did make Farrell’s squad for the 2021 November internationals but didn’t add to his 35-cap haul, then Covid issues and broken ribs frustrated his efforts to remain a part of the Test picture.
Zebo has only played three times for Munster this season due to more injury concerns – twice against Leinster and then against Connacht on New Year’s Day. He was at full-back in all three games.
With Mack Hansen and Jimmy O’brien both ruled out of the Six Nations through injury and his former team-mates Keith Earls and Andrew Conway now retired, Farrell (inset) is assessing his back three options ahead of naming an extended squad next week.
“You never know,” said Zebo, who is now 33. “I’m fully focussed on just keep playing well for Munster, you don’t want to count your chickens.
“I just want to keep playing well, keep getting my hands on the ball and showing what I can do and trying to help Munster as best I can.
“I know if I’m fit and healthy I can mix it with anyone, so I’ve just got to keep putting my best foot forward.
“That’s the
goal.
I’m
JOEY CARBERY will get the fresh start he needs to “rejuvenate” his career when he moves abroad, says Simon Zebo.
Carbery (left) will follow in Zebo’s footsteps when he heads to France at the end of the season. Zebo spent three seasons with Racing 92 in between two stints with Munster.
very confident in my ability, I always have been. I know that if I’m playing to the best of my ability that I can play at any level.
“But no matter what the level, the bigger the game is when I tend to play my best rugby.”
A big performance in the Champions Cup clash with Toulon on Saturday would serve as a reminder of what Zebo can do on the big stage.
The veteran added: “I’ve been playing well for a long time, it’s that my health has kind of let me down a little bit in getting back to back performances and different things.
“Each game I’ve been involved in this season has been a top tier one against an international quality team so I’ve been happy with how I’ve performed.
“Obviously there’s room for improvement on how we’ve performed but it’s been a good start for me.
“Hopefully I can build on those performances and keep my form going into the next part of the season.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be fantastic for him to get a fresh start, to go to a team that plays really nice rugby and to show the quality that he has,” said Zebo of his team-mate, who is linked with a move to Bordeaux Begles.
“It’s been a bit stop-start for him here the last year or two which is unfortunate because we all know how great a player he is, it’s just being unlucky with injury at crucial times of our season has put him in the background a bit.
“But he’s full of quality, he’s a great squad member to have, he’s a great bit of craic around the place but a fresh start abroad would be fantastic for him, it would rejuvenate him a bit.
“He’s hopefully going to enjoy himself a lot.”