Simon Zebo will be welcomed back into the Ireland squad tomorrow after his compassionate leave, but there was a time when the Munster flyer must have wondered if he would ever be invited back into the fold.
Currently at home in Cork to attend the funeral of his grandfather, John Geary, Zebo will return to London before the team to face Italy is named on Friday.
His grandfather’s death unfortunately coincided with one of Zebo’s most eye-catching performances for Ireland – the full-back in inspired form as Joe Schmidt’s men comprehensively beat Romania, 44-10.
The Test arena seemed a distant goal for Zebo less than two years ago, when he was seemingly frozen out by new coach Joe Schmidt, who wanted to see more application and team-work from the talented 25 year old.
His provincial coach Anthony Foley, speaking ahead of Friday evening’s PRO12 clash with defending champions Glasgow, paid tribute to Zebo’s determination to get back into Schmidt’s squad, having been overlooked for the 2014 Six Nations triumph.
“Simon Zebo, what he had to do for long periods of time to get himself into the squad and cement himself in the squad, fight tooth and nail to get in there,” said Foley, who made mention of Zebo’s amazing try that never was in the first half against Romania.
“These lads have done really well and it’s great to see that on an occasion like that they stepped up with those performances, Zebo’s try was the greatest Irish try never to be scored, but we see that most days here when he trains with us.
“He has all the skills, he has the ability and it’s great to see it on the world stage again,” added Foley.
Having been on the outside looking in for almost an entire year between the June 2013 Tour of North America and the trip to Argentina 12 months later, the in-form Corkman is now indispensable.
With Rob Kearney a doubt for Sunday’s Pool D meeting with Italy at the Olympic Stadium, Schmidt is sure to welcome Zebo back with open arms tomorrow.
