CHRISTMAS IS A peculiar time for Simon Zebo and indeed all rugby players. He’ll allow himself “a little turkey” but the other festive treats will have to stay on the table.
He’s already had his break following an exhausting run of games for province and country. So, while the rest of the world is enjoying their holidays, he’s looking towards a Pro12 fixture against Leinster (TG4, 5.30PM) on St Stephen’s Day.
2016 has been a successful year for Irish rugby overall. Scalps over the three Southern Hemisphere sides in Test matches brought a much needed reprieve following a disappointing Six Nations campaign, and Zebo played his part.
11 minutes into Ireland’s November Test against Australia, Zebo was summoned from the bench to replace a visibly shaken Rob Kearney. The number 23 coming on to claim his 28th International cap.
After his introduction, he played an instrumental role in the Iain Henderson try courtesy of a bouncing kick of the ball that put Keith Earls through the cover before the offload to Henderson.
After 54 minutes, Ireland were holding a slender six-point lead and trying to repel the Australian resurgence, when the ball was recycled to Zebo. He opted for a kick into touch but it didn’t travel far. The ball skewed off his boot and gifted possession back to the visitors.
The camera shows Zebo facing across the Irish line, wincing, and gesturing an apology at someone. He can’t quite remember who it was, though “it was probably Besty (Rory Best),” he tells The42.
Seven minutes later, Australia are four points clear and transferring the ball across the pitch when Zebo takes his place in the Irish line. He finds himself staring down Michael Hooper and starts closing in on him, quickening his pace with each stride.
Hooper collects the ball just before Zebo crashes into him. It’s the second wind Ireland have been looking for to break the Wallabies’ countering momentum.
Ultimately, it was the moment which led to Ireland’s triumph — Zebo’s family and friends would probably endorse that sentiment, he agrees — but within the confines of the dressing room, he’s a grounded man.
“It was just one of those moments where you have to back yourself, you try and make a big statement. I think we probably needed it at the time. If you’ve got the confidence to do it, you’ve gotta do it.
“We got the result and we didn’t think too much about the game. For sure at our next international camp, we’ll review it but at that moment in time we were just enjoying the win. We beat southern hemisphere sides and we have to enjoy that moment.”
But in those moments when Australia were on the rampage, surely the players were contemplating the worst?
“We wouldn’t really think like that. It’s easier for spectators to see the momentum change in the game and things like this but as players, we play minute by minute and moment by moment.
“If something goes wrong, if they score a try or a penalty, it’s literally, ‘Next job, what can we do now to swing the momentum back for us?’ Even when I sliced the ball off the side of my boot, it’s not something you dwell on for too long because if you do then, the game will slip away from ya.
“We were all pretty calm and Besty was leading us quite well and we knew what we needed to do. Just one or two crucial moments in the game got us that momentum that we needed to get us over the line.”
The sense of self-belief he carries has been a mainstay characteristic of his game since he first arrived on the international stage back in 2013 with that famous Six Nations debut against Wales.
He could have played a conservative game that day, given it was his first chance to impress at that level. But Zebo put on a show and treated the crowd to a back-heel of the ball following a pass from Jamie Heaslip which led to a try. He also collected a try of his own and signed off with that trademark ‘Z’ sign salute.
There was no pretense behind the performance, rather it was just the kind of expressive display that comes naturally to him.
“It was a special moment. That was probably my first introduction to the international stage as doing something like that.”
“Before I was on the international stage, I was trying to make friends and enjoy myself and enjoy the craic and it translated into doing something. I try to play with no fear and entertain the people who pay to come and see us.”
I’d back my skill level and my talent over anything, that’s why I believe I am where I am out of belief and confidence and playing with no fear. The more you think about things, the more you lose the ability to express yourself on the pitch and 10 times out of 10 it might have gone backwards or went under my hand but I’d belief and confidence in myself.”
In Ireland’s first clash against the All Blacks this year, some of that audacious play manifested itself again. A box-kick from Conor Murray on the hour mark prompted Zebo into a sprint. Waiting on the other end ready to gather the ball was All Black Aaron Cruden, but the Munster man was plotting an ambush.
He launched into the air, arms outstretched and cupped the ball into his chest before rolling off Cruden’s shoulder to make as clean a landing as you can get considering the height of his leap.
The winger however, can still see the imperfections of what appeared to be an excellent move.
“I probably jumped a little bit early but yeah it’s one of those things again. Conor just put up a great box kick and I just really went after it. And (Aaron) Cruden who wouldn’t be the biggest guy in the world, I fancied myself against him.”
As regards jumping, we do this thing at the gym called the CMJ (Counter-Movement Jump) and I’d say I’ve probably the worst recorded jump ever and then when it comes to the pitch, I don’t know how it works.”
Away from the rugby pitch, Ireland lost an iconic figure this year, which brought the rugby fraternity together in a powerfully emotional way.
Zebo still remembers the first time he met Anthony Foley. He was an U20 player looking to impress a legend of the province.
“There was about 40 or 50 young boys out there and he was the head coach and he was trying to pick us and I remember just shaking his hand and being star struck and being in awe of the man and what he’s achieved.
“He epitomised Munster rugby and everything I wanted to do. To see the man who’s been there and done it and potentially was about to be my coach, I was very excited.
“I’d say he would have been more impressed if I had gone head first into a scrum. Me and Axel have and had a great relationship. He’s a great character and we had a very close relationship.”
After Foley’s death, Munster recorded a comprehensive victory over Glasgow Warriors in Thomand Park. Zebo crossed the whitewash that day and, in honour of his fallen hero, he pledged the score to Foley.
I’d be quite religious. Whenever I get the opportunity to go to mass that’s good but I’d be a big believer in prayer. It’s happened to me a couple of time with people I’ve lost, I dedicate the very first try to them. I’d be quite spiritual. I’d be pretty confident that every time I go out on the pitch, my grandfather is looking after me and Axel is looking after me.”
“I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and when it’s your time to go, it’s your time to go. I’m sure he’s looking after us right now. Every game we’ve won he’s with us and we’ll try to keep it going.”
The rugby calendar doesn’t take the Christmas break into account but Zebo is comforted by some important upcoming fixtures against Connacht (Pro 12) and of course the Stephen’s Day meeting with Leinster.
He also has another rap video to plan in the new year with Paddy Jackson, but when asked by The42, he refused to divulge the specifics of their next hit.
“Oh definitely, when we get a bit of time together, I think there could be a third song coming. I don’t want to give too much away. He’s Jay Z and I’m Kanye so we’ll have to pick and choose our songs very carefully and make sure it’s perfect.”
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Nick leeson take a bow.
The Galway United directors and the FAI have killed League of Ireland football in Galway.
It seems that GUST had their application in order and were raring to go, with the backing of countless business people and politicians from the city and county, not to mention the thousands that signed a petition in support of GUST, but a technicality was used against them by the FAI, one that was ignored in the case of Cork City FORAS and Derry City.
The FAI is rotten at its core. They are attempting to clean up the mess that they are as responsible for as the directors of GU Football Club Ltd. The so-called “merger” the association are trying to impose upon GUST will result in one of the parish clubs swallowing up a fund-raising committee and possibly slapping Galway at the end of the name of the team fielded in the First Division. Member clubs of the Galway FA would see themselves turn in to feeder clubs of teams that they compete against at junior and juvenile level. The work that has been done by GUST to include junior clubs for mutual benefit would be lost, turning them against the new entity.
All of this is in addition to the fact that the vast majority of Terryland regulars would rather forget about Terryland on Friday nights than give a cent to Devon or Mervue, who have everything to gain from this situation..
The Galway United directors and the FAI have killed League of Ireland football in Galway.
It seems that GUST had their application in order and were raring to go, with the backing of countless business people and politicians from the city and county, not to mention the thousands that signed a petition in support of GUST, but a technicality was used against them by the FAI, one that was ignored in the case of Cork City FORAS and Derry City.
The FAI is rotten at its core. They are attempting to clean up the mess that they are as responsible for as the directors of GU Football Club Ltd. The so-called “merger” the association are trying to impose upon GUST will result in one of the parish clubs swallowing up a fund-raising committee and possibly slapping Galway at the end of the name of the team fielded in the First Division. Member clubs of the Galway FA would see themselves turn in to feeder clubs of teams that they compete against at junior and juvenile level. The work that has been done by GUST to include junior clubs for mutual benefit would be lost, turning them against the new entity.
All of this is in addition to the fact that the vast majority of Terryland regulars would rather forget about Terryland on Friday nights than give a cent to Devon or Mervue, who have everything to gain from this situation.
Agree with everything you say there apart from maybe the last paragraph – I don’t know if genuine Galway United supporters will turn their back on any new ‘merged’ club, maybe they will, I don’t know. But sure as hell the version of Galway United FC that has competed over the last 3 seasons was in dire need of a ‘shake-up’.
Great point about all other Galway clubs turning into feeder clubs for teams that they directly compete against at juvenile and junior level.
Whatever happens I hope that something can be sorted out over the coming few weeks. Would be an awful shame to see some form of Galway United disappearing off the FAI map and Terryland lying fallow. Look to Cork City for a great example.
@James Corr (Tried to reply directly to your post…)
The supporters of what was Galway United / Galway Rovers understand that despite the fact that GUST had no control over the club, they were the heart and soul of it, running the match nights, organising training facilities and transport when nobody would deal with the club, keeping it running, generally paying debts the club left after it left, right and centre. Running fund-raisers, raffles, events etc. When the board warned employees of the club not to deal with GUST on day and then directed them to GUST for their wages the next, you get some idea of the lunacy involved.
Members of the trust are known all around the county and indeed the country among LOI folk as people with integrity and nothing but the interests of Galway football as a whole in their hearts, you might say the opposite of those who held ownership of the club.
The Galway United of the last number of years is dead and buried and nobody will mourn the passing, but I am just devastated that the people who clearly have the ability and desire to run a club for the city and county, responsibly and with building a legacy for Galway in mind, are being shafted.
Regarding your point about Cork City and also about Terryland lying fallow…
Cork City FORAS submitted their application for the league after the deadline had passed, as did Derry City. Just as FORAS had done, GUST were doing their utmost to free themselves from the shackles of lunatic owners and re-build a club based in reality and one with integrity. The FAI’s well-known policy of one rule for a select few and a different one for the unfortunate others is alive and well.
I’m sure that the presence of a man with strong ties with Salthill Devon on the FAI Club Licensing Committee had no influence on the decision whatsoever… nor did it have anything to do with 3 Galway club competing in the league in the first place.
I would have no problem with Terryland being empty on a Friday night. I would rather that than see the abomination that the FAI think is the solution. Terryland is the hub of Galway junior football, held in trust by the Galway FA, so it will not lie fallow. It would hurt to not see a true representative of Galway line out there every other weekend, but I would rather that than the current alternative being tabled. GUST or BUST, as has been said.
Fair play Sean, you know your stuff. Club was surely run into the ground from the top.
I wish you and GUST the very best of luck getting as you put it ‘a true representative of Galway’ city and county togging out in Terryland in next season’s LOI.
I think all that can be done now James is for GUST to finish up the sham “negotiations” and just leave the FAI and the parish clubs to it. See how clever the FAI feel next year.
That is the only thing I could back myself at the moment.
Galway United lost a lot of casual supporters in the last few years. As mentioned above the greater Galway area is too small to support 3 SUCCESSFUL soccer teams. Some were also lost to Connacht Rugby and GAA. To the casual sports fan the product on offer is far superior at the rugby where the opposition teams are often full of internationals. The move a few years back to summer soccer in LOI also brought Galway Utd games into direct competition with club and county GAA matches in both football and Hurling. I remember in the mid 1990′s Galway Utd got a crowd of over 6,000 to a league match against Cork city (which was played at Galwegians ground in Glenina due to Terryland being too small at the time).
This year over 9,000 were at the Connacht v Toulouse game in the sports grounds. Last weekend I was away in Toulouse and met dedicated supporters of Mervue and Galway United. It seems clear to me if Soccer in the city is to win back supporters in any great numbers a 3 way merger at LOI level is the only option.
No question that Galway can’t support 3 successful teams. It can’t even support one, not without a team that represents the whole county, not a parish that is largely indifferent to its existence, which is currently the case with Mervue and Devon.
The summer soccer argument is neither here nor the there. Factors other than that are responsible for the demise of Galway United, namely the board of directors of GU Football Club Ltd. and the FAI.
The only reason Devon and Mervue would sit in a room with GUST to talk about this is because they are being forced from above by the FAI.
GUST are the victims of the FAI applying rules how they please. The reason the FAI gave for the denial of GUST was not a problem for Derry or Cork. If a long-standing affiliate of Salthill Devon FC wasn’t on the FAI Club Licensing Committee, I wonder would we even be having this conversation?
How can a city and surrounds with 100000 odd people afford to have 3 teams in the league anyway?
Galway United drew support from all over County Galway, some putting the split very roughly at 50/50 between city and county, maybe even weighted more towards the county. The population as of the census last year for the county was a quarter of a million.
I agree that there should not be 3 or even 2 teams from Galway in the league, but Devon and Mervue applied for the A Championship and were subsequently promoted to the First Division. The right they have be there isn’t in question. GUST have watched on as the club they worked so hard for has been destroyed. Now that they have tried to start again, the FAI are trying to fix their own mess and consequently are making it worse.