At the start of every season, many Irish rugby players sit down and list their goals for the months ahead.
Facing the All Blacks in Chicago, reviving Munster’s fortunes and making the Lions tour would have surely featured on Simon Zebo’s list. And tries. Lots and lots of tries.
Zebo’s score against Leicester Tigers, last Saturday, was his 48th dot down in 107 senior games with Munster.
He has long overtaken Anthony Horgan’s scoring marker and leads the way for his province. Now he is all about setting new goals. He says:
“It’s lovely to score tries for Munster. It is something I wanted to do ever since I was a little boy so to be all-time top try-scorer by 25 [he is 26 now] is something I am pretty proud of.
“Every time I get to cross the line is a great honour and hopefully I have a couple more in me.
“I want to have a 1 in 2 [tries to game] ratio. That would be something. I’m not too far off; just need a couple of hat-tricks.”
Seven tries in his next two games would see Zebo get that 1:2 ratio but, with Leicester away and Leinster at home, it won’t be easy. He will take what he can get.
Zebo insists he is happy to help Munster in any way he can – whether it is scoring tries, making last-minute tackles or chasing down each and every lost cause.
Having played a huge part in Ireland’s November Series successes and helped in Munster’s recent winning streak, Zebo is in a good place, professionally. Father to 18-month old Jacob Zebo too, the Munster man seems more content than ever. He says:
“The smile is back on my face, whic is always good for my rugby. I’m having fun out there on the pitch and enjoying every time I get my hands on the ball.”
Zebo knows what it takes to go to Leicester’s Welford Road and win but he is expecting the English outfit to bring the fight on Saturday. “We have to be on our game from minute one,” he concludes.
