THE SIX NATIONS euphoria is beginning to wear off and you may need to phone work and let them know you will be back in, soon.
You turn on your TV or radio, however, and there they are. Joe Schmidt has already reviewed all the tapes and is drawing up plans for the World Cup. Dave Kearney is on TV3, his brother Rob is blaspheming on the national airwaves and you have to get used to seeing Gordon D’Arcy without his legendary beard again. These lads never take a break.
Yes, the RaboDirect Pro12 is back this weekend and many of Ireland’s Six Nations stars will be involved. The league has rolled on during Ireland’s successful quest for silverware, however, and we are here to get you up to speed.
1. Leinster have leapfrogged Munster
The league champions love sneaky 100% records during the international breaks. Fringe players like Darragh Fanning, Noel Reid, Tadhg Furlong and Jack Conan have pitched in — with relentless Shane Jennings goading them on — and four matches have resulted in four wins, and 19 points. Matt O’Connor’s men now lead Munster by a single, solitary, tantalising point.
Noel Reid scores against Glasgow. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
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2. Stephen Ferris is back
‘Fez’ made his first Ulster appearance in 16 months and helped his team to an vital home win over Scarlets. On his first play of the game, he did this:
Last time you may have looked, Pat Lam’s men were probably hovering perilously close to the Pro12 basement [keeping Zebre cosy]. Now, the westerners are on a roll and targeting their first ever run of four consecutive wins.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
4. Treviso are getting hammered on a regular basis
The Italians have conceded 168 points in their last four games, which have all been defeats. They pushed understrength Ulster close at home the week after they were whomped 75-7 by Ospreys.
Connacht eviscerated them 38-6 at The Sportsground and they are only two points clear of Zebre. Only the top Italian side will qualify for the Heineken Cup next season.
It is perhaps unfortunate, then, that they meet Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday evening. Rob Penney’s men may have slipped up away to Scarlets, last time out, but will fancy their bonus point chances. Munster’s last two home wins have been 54-13 over Cardiff and a 36-8 thumping of Zebre. Simon Zebo has four tries in four games and looks in top form.
6. This man will be back for the visit of Munster
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Brian O’Driscoll misses the game against Zebre this evening but should be back in the Leinster XV for Munster’s visit to Lansdowne Road. The should prove another ‘last’ in O’Driscoll’s farewell season. However, if league results go their way [and Heineken Cup results do not], we may yet see the living legend in a Pro12 final at his old stomping ground.
Can’t help but agree. He’s a great player with a lot of talent, but the theatrics don’t seem to be helping his cause to get in the national team. We’d all like to see him back, but it seems Joe isn’t impressed by showboating.
Some load of crap. He’s not in the Ireland team because he’s not cottoned on to the type of player that Joe wants him to be. Showboating has nothing to do with it. And bar doing a Z what else does he do on a consistent basis? You’d swear you never say BOD or any other player celebrate after scoring a try! Embarrassing!!!
Peter, I have never seen BOD, Darc, Kearney, Heaslip, POC, Ferris, ROG, Quinny, POM, or most other Irish internationals trying to do a summersault tumble downward pressure try before. Zebo can do all the Z’s in the world when he scores, no problem with that. It’s this specific form of showboating as displayed in the GIF above that he needs to cut out.
I would love for Zebo to be on International team. He is a great player, unpredictable at time’s (which is a good thing). If he has serious thoughts of getting back into JS sights, then he needs to concentrate on his game. And I agree with you to some extent, JS likes a specific type of player, but I believe he would be quite happy to have Zebo on the team.
Agree Brian, not too long ago Trimble was out of the panel, joe will operate an open panel I’m sure and zebo will get his chance, I’m sure. There’s no defending that somersault, that kind of showboating might look like a bit of fun but it is disrespectful to the opposition.
Nobody begrudges somebody celebrating a try. But when that’s the primary thing you remember about a player, then there’s something missing. Great flair, questionable defense. Once Zebo sorts that out, he’ll work his way into the team.
The international break affects the rabo so much because 4 international squads are missing from the league, so its a great opportunity for Connacht to pick up some points, they must be the team least weakened in the league.
Zebo was asked to cut out the theatrics (aka Chris Ashton style) after scoring a try at an Irish training camp before the six nations, after scoring a second try and more theatrics he was told to go home. (A bit of insider info.)
Indeed he is , bad taste with photo and then to replay it with a self play clip , childish and bad reporting, Looking back at your previous articles its seems you belong on the Leinster Fan Club website or as The Journel ‘s Leinster /leinster player special correspondant . in other words you have a real hard on for Leinster ,no ?
Holy shit mc mahon you don’t have a chip on your shoulder you have a fricking crater! What are you shiting on about anyway? You don’t even have a valid point! How come you rarely see leinster fans bitching and moaning about munster coverage or munster men bein on the irish squad? I’d bitch about particular players but not because of their club cos I genuinely think there are better players out there. You’d swear there’s some kind of grand conspiracy against Zebo the way you’re going on. He is raw, he is fast, he is talented but he isn’t the finished article and other players are better than him and more useful right now. Simple fact. Everyone here recpgnises how good he has the potential to be but he can’t be carried in defense and other areas just to be there to finish an attack!
Patrick Mc Carry, the Author , it was irresponsible to show that clip of Zebo and the article photo , i feel you put it up to make a show of him , bias behavior and a dig, for some reason a blue glass tinted dig . Probobly to get the whole Zebo debate going again for some gain for the club you follow ,Leinster .
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Zebo needs to cut out the theatrics. Just put the ball down and get on with it.
Can’t help but agree. He’s a great player with a lot of talent, but the theatrics don’t seem to be helping his cause to get in the national team. We’d all like to see him back, but it seems Joe isn’t impressed by showboating.
Some load of crap. He’s not in the Ireland team because he’s not cottoned on to the type of player that Joe wants him to be. Showboating has nothing to do with it. And bar doing a Z what else does he do on a consistent basis? You’d swear you never say BOD or any other player celebrate after scoring a try! Embarrassing!!!
Peter, I have never seen BOD, Darc, Kearney, Heaslip, POC, Ferris, ROG, Quinny, POM, or most other Irish internationals trying to do a summersault tumble downward pressure try before. Zebo can do all the Z’s in the world when he scores, no problem with that. It’s this specific form of showboating as displayed in the GIF above that he needs to cut out.
I would love for Zebo to be on International team. He is a great player, unpredictable at time’s (which is a good thing). If he has serious thoughts of getting back into JS sights, then he needs to concentrate on his game. And I agree with you to some extent, JS likes a specific type of player, but I believe he would be quite happy to have Zebo on the team.
Agree Brian, not too long ago Trimble was out of the panel, joe will operate an open panel I’m sure and zebo will get his chance, I’m sure. There’s no defending that somersault, that kind of showboating might look like a bit of fun but it is disrespectful to the opposition.
Great way to snap a wrist diving the way he is above. We all hated ashton for doing that swan diving crap, zebo deserves the same criticism.
Nobody begrudges somebody celebrating a try. But when that’s the primary thing you remember about a player, then there’s something missing. Great flair, questionable defense. Once Zebo sorts that out, he’ll work his way into the team.
The international break affects the rabo so much because 4 international squads are missing from the league, so its a great opportunity for Connacht to pick up some points, they must be the team least weakened in the league.
Zebo was asked to cut out the theatrics (aka Chris Ashton style) after scoring a try at an Irish training camp before the six nations, after scoring a second try and more theatrics he was told to go home. (A bit of insider info.)
Missed? Don’t think fans missed any of this. Maybe the bandwagoners ya.
Indeed he is , bad taste with photo and then to replay it with a self play clip , childish and bad reporting, Looking back at your previous articles its seems you belong on the Leinster Fan Club website or as The Journel ‘s Leinster /leinster player special correspondant . in other words you have a real hard on for Leinster ,no ?
Ah get over it Marcus; the gif illustrates both sides of Zebo: tryscorer and clown! If he cuts out the latter the former can improve even more
Holy shit mc mahon you don’t have a chip on your shoulder you have a fricking crater! What are you shiting on about anyway? You don’t even have a valid point! How come you rarely see leinster fans bitching and moaning about munster coverage or munster men bein on the irish squad? I’d bitch about particular players but not because of their club cos I genuinely think there are better players out there. You’d swear there’s some kind of grand conspiracy against Zebo the way you’re going on. He is raw, he is fast, he is talented but he isn’t the finished article and other players are better than him and more useful right now. Simple fact. Everyone here recpgnises how good he has the potential to be but he can’t be carried in defense and other areas just to be there to finish an attack!
Patrick Mc Carry, the Author , it was irresponsible to show that clip of Zebo and the article photo , i feel you put it up to make a show of him , bias behavior and a dig, for some reason a blue glass tinted dig . Probobly to get the whole Zebo debate going again for some gain for the club you follow ,Leinster .
I think Simon Zebo is a great player who still has an extremely bright future with Ireland.