We must take more risks, insists Zebo
BRIAN O’DRIscOll’s call for Ireland to take more risks has been endorsed by simon Zebo ahead of the title-holders’ encounter with England at Twickenham on saturday. The iconic former captain and centre has urged head coach Joe schmidt to approve an expansion of the Irish game plan by giving his players licence to use their instincts and off-load more often. O’Driscoll called the attacking ploy ‘high risk, high reward’ and said: ‘I feel as though there is definitely scope to throw a few more.’ Munster and Ireland flier Zebo has echoed those sentiments by insisting that off-loading is second nature to him, along with a willingness to gamble in the way he plays. He wants Ireland to collectively adopt that mindset in order to keep pace with global trends. In light of jibes from England head coach Eddie Jones about Ireland’s over-reliance on kicking, schmidt’s side are determined to emphasise their multi-dimensional threat. Picking up the theme, 25-year-old Zebo said: ‘There hopefully is not a fear factor within the players. Off-loads and the expansion of the game are things we need to get better at because that is how the best teams in the world are playing. We want to be up there competing with the two or three best sides in the world. ‘We go out each game with a plan to be successful against the other team, beat the other team and score tries but it doesn’t always happen that way. ‘sometimes our game plan might work but the performance will let us down. It’s not always offloading the ball or things like that, if there is space behind, we will kick to the space. ‘If the space is on to run, we will run. We’re close to finishing off a few scores from line-breaks and things like that. It is just one or two handling errors and frustrating knock-ons that are letting us down in the final third. ‘Once we get those mistakes sorted, we will be putting up a few points and getting a few tries.’ O’Driscoll’s recent, measured criticism of Ireland’s tactical approach highlighted one example from two years ago, of Zebo attempting an off-load against
Australia only for the ball to be stolen, allowing the Wallabies to score at the other end. O’Driscoll’s argument was that Schmidt won’t authorise such acts of daring which sometimes don’t work out. But Zebo is not about to change his ways. ‘It is one of those things that is in my DnA,’ said the Lions wing. ‘I try to off-load the ball, I try to keep continuity and I take risks. You have to live in the game, be in the game, think on your feet and see what’s in front of you. ‘If you’re thinking about meetings after the game, that does no good for any player and no good for the team because players are playing with fear. ‘It’s just a bad environment to play under. I don’t think we suffer from that. Players are willing to try things and hopefully that continues and we score a few tries this week.’ Asked if a willingness to take risks in high-stakes test matches was part of the Ireland team’s DnA, as well as his own, he added: ‘Yeah, if it’s on you’re allowed to have a go. ‘I think some players go with that a lot and some players play to their own strengths and do otherwise, but collectively we’re given licence to go out and play. ‘I don’t think you’d see (prop) Mike Ross throwing skip passes or anything but at the same time we’re given licence to play heads-up rugby and hopefully we do that this weekend. ‘that’s the way it looks like the game is going and the best teams are playing the best rugby. ‘I’d love to be involved in a high-tempo game like that with lots of expansion. that’s when I’m at my most dangerous.’