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Simon Zebo opens door to Ireland Test recall after signing deal taking him back to Munster from Racing

(Photo by Getty Images)

Simon Zebo has potentially vaulted himself back into the Ireland reckoning ahead of the 2023 World Cup in France after he agreed to re-join Munster from Racing on a one-year deal, making him available next season to be chosen by the national team boss Andy Farrell.   

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It was October 2017 when Zebo announced he would be heading to the Top 14 and while the deal didn’t kick in until summer 2018, he was immediately omitted from the Ireland squad by then-coach Joe Schmidt.

Frustrated by his dealings with Racing when Johnny Sexton was with the Parisian club, Schmidt opted not to pick any overseas-based players once the IRFU managed to re-sign Sexton in 2015 and it was that ‘rule’ which left Zebo surplus to national team requirement since he earned the last of his 35 caps in June 2017. 

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Wales out-half and Lions selection hopeful Dan Biggar guests on RugbyPass All Access

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Wales out-half and Lions selection hopeful Dan Biggar guests on RugbyPass All Access

The RugbyPass Offload co-host had spoken in recent times about his desire to get back involved with Ireland and had said on leaving Munster three years ago that it was his wish one day to rejoin the club. That has now come to pass, Zebo agreeing to a deal – co-funded by Munster and the IRFU – that will bring him back to Ireland in time for the 2021/22 Guinness PRO16 season.     

“I’m thrilled and honoured to be coming back home to play for Munster,” enthused Zebo. “My family and I have been so lucky to have enjoyed three incredible years with Racing 92 in Paris and I cannot thank the team there enough, I really have made friends for life and take with me some brilliant memories.

“However, as everyone knows, Munster holds a very special place in my heart and I’ve always said that I wanted to play for them and potentially Ireland again, so when this opportunity arose the lure of being close to home, family and friends and Munster fans, it outweighed all other options. I cannot wait to get back to the HPC with the team and hopefully a packed Thomond Park.”

Munster boss Johann van Graan was delighted to re-capture the services of the club’s all-time record try-scorer, the 31-year-old scoring 60 tries in his 144 appearances between 2010 and 2018. “The opportunity to bring Simon back to Munster came about in early April following a final review of our squad’s budgetary position for season-end and with assistance from the IRFU to support what we believe is a really good deal for Munster and Irish rugby.

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“Simon’s desire to return to Ireland and play with his home club is illustrated by his willingness to sign at a level below his market value elsewhere. This has made bringing the province’s all-time leading try-scorer back home possible.”

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J
JWH 41 minutes ago
Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

Interesting take, crazy to see the amount of delulu NZ fans here. I am an NZ fan, but this is atrocious.


I am fine with 75%+, in fact I think that is excellent, but the main point of anguish is not IF we win or lose, it is how. I think that Razor has finally got us playing to our identity again; flowing, simple, and brutally decisive & efficient.


There are certainly some issues that the stats reflect, like the scrum and lineout. However, at scrum time, there isn't really much variation, in terms of attack, you can put on that. So at the end of the day, not much to do differently apart from 'scrum better'.


However, the lineout is quite interesting. As Ryan said earlier this week, the ABs have added a lot of depth and combinations to their lineout, with FOUR lineout options (Barrett, Vaai, Savea, Sititi). While they did only retain 80% possession from lineouts (not great), the stat line is actually 12/15, which is pretty good, considering Aumua did all those lineout with limited experience and tiredness after playing 75 minutes at Twickenham.


There are also some really good stats to back up the ABs. They managed to stay out of their own 22 for a lot of the game, however they also didn't set up camp in the opp 22 often either. They are also passing the ball a lot, clocking in at 211 passes, double that of England. These stats show a return to attacking, flowing rugby, and not playing your own 22, which is the ABs style.


What I think Razor wants to do is make effective use of draw and pass, simple rugby. This can be pre or post contact, but you have to draw more than 1 player. For example, that Sititi offload to Telea, or BB to Jordan. Those were excellent, yet overall simple passages of rugby This can be risky at times (just watch DMac play), but it is a medium risk high reward gameplan.


What we Kiwis want is exciting rugby. We want hard defense, big hits, cool plays, and quick linebreaks. I cannot imagine being an SA fan between 2018-2021, which was one of the most boring rugby teams of all time (respectfully). I also cannot imagine being an England fan right now, so dull. But the ABs are making rugby exciting again, playing like Scotland and Fiji, but better.

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