WORLD CUP SHORTS

PETER STRINGER has called on Joe Schmidt to reinstate Simon Zebo as a first-choice Ireland player for the World Cup. Zebo was the fall guy after the defeat to Wales last March, the winger losing his spot to Luke Fitzgerald for the following weekend’s Six Nations title clincher in Scotland. However, Ireland’s most capped scrumhalf had told

Irish Rugby Review’s World Cup preview edition that Zebo has the armoury to light up the finals. ‘We have to make sure that the best players are on the pitch,’ insisted Stringer, the veteran of two World Cups, including the disastrous 2007 campaign where he was dropped after the opening two pool matches. ‘The decision-makers have to be firing and there is one player I would urge Schmidt to consider carefully, Simon Zebo. I’d have him for the start. If he gets his head right, if he is in the right headspace and given the opportunity, he is a guy who potentially could be a star of the World Cup.’

WORLD CUP winner Ben Kay has labelled Joe Schmidt’s World Cup approach as risky. ‘Ireland probably have the easiest draw,’ said the ex-England second row in relation to Ireland’s openers against Canada and Romania. ‘Speaking to people around the squad they are saying that their build-up has been slightly different in that they are looking to peak slightly later in the tournament. That’s a risky strategy if you can’t get the confidence.’ ÷ FORMER All Black Ali Williams claims it will be a ‘dark day if England win the World Cup. ‘If the English, the only team that nobody wants to see win, win this World Cup it will be a dark day,’ Williams said. ‘The worst defeats are those against the English. Perhaps because they lack nobility in their victories.’