Updated at 15.17
SIMON ZEBO’S FUTURE at Munster is up in the air after he refused to rule out a potential move away from the province.
The 27-year-old winger has played 123 times for Munster and scored 55 tries between the league and Europe.
He has featured on a British & Irish Lions tour to Australia and notched up 35 caps for Ireland but his provincial contract runs out next summer.
I’m still deciding what I’m going to do in terms of my family and my future and it will probably take a little bit of time. But I’ll come to a decision soon,” said Zebo.
“Definitely (before the November internationals), we’ll see what happens. I’m still unsure.
At some time in my career, yeah, (I will go to France) it just depends when. It could be at any level or any time, but at some stage, yeah.
“Munster Rugby is the creme de la creme when it comes to club rugby and I’m very happy to be spending my time here at the moment.
If something changes or if I have a different motive for moving I’ll see, but for now I’m just committed to playing as best I can on the pitch, enjoying nights like Saturday night, which are incredible.
“I wouldn’t (move or stay because of Johann van Graan), Munster Rugby is Munster Rugby.
It’s not going to change with somebody coming in or going. I wouldn’t base my decision on that at all.”
Munster clash with Racing 92 at Thomond Park on Saturday as they look for their first victory in this season’s Champions Cup — Munster drew 17-17 with Castres at Stade Pierre Fabre in Round 1.
Out-half Tyler Bleyendaal (neck) and hooker Niall Scannell (thumb) have both emerged as doubts out of that game, while Jean Kleyn (neck) looks highly unlikely to feature.
New director of rugby Johann van Graan will be in Limerick this weekend and his predecessor Rassie Erasmus says he is confident of a smooth transition.
“He’s been under pressure situations in his life. When he coached with the Bulls, in those days with 15,000 or 16,000 people at a match, and if you lose sometimes there’s then 2,000 people,” said Erasmus.
Sometimes it works in a cut-throat way in South Africa in certain provinces. So he’s used to massive pressure.
“He’s been involved with the Springboks when they lost by two points in a World Cup semi-final to the All Blacks, but they lost to Japan and they had to turn that around, and then they went on to the semi-finals and lost by two points to the All Blacks.
Five weeks ago they lost to the All Blacks by 57 points and they managed to handle that pressure and come back and lose by one point.
“So I don’t think the pressure will get to him. He’s a really level-headed, cool guy.
“The new thing is just to pretty quickly understand the culture and the players.”
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2 McIlroys. A and B and flips and flops to suit himself and the circumstances. Would prefer if he just said the big money and attention is still in the US rather than skirt around the obvious!
@David Gaffney: But that is what he is saying. He lives in the state’s cause that’s where the money is and he’s never made a secret of that. He’s saying as good as the changes to the European tour are, they aren’t enough to entice the top players to change what they are doing. It’s overtly implied it what he said. Just cause he doesn’t blatantly state it doesn’t mean he’s skirting the question
@Phil Redmond:
Married to an American, his family is in America… The bggest payouts are in America… Totally understandable…
Shane is in the same boat… To play in the top competitions you have to play in the highest ranking tournaments…
@Cowboy Paddy: Exactly and the European tour events need to get much closer to the PGA in terms of prize money and ranking points if they want to start attracting the top players away from it. I doubt that will ever happen though. The PGA want to protect their place as the no 1 tour like anyone in their position would so any sign that the European tour are going to make any significant inroads into that they’ll up the prize money and keep the top players coming back to them
@Phil Redmond: it absolutely does mean he is skirting around it! Why not just say it. Why talk like a politician that is evasive and won’t commit!?
@David Gaffney: Non committal choker and mercenary. #136daystillmoreRorycomedygold