Murphy backs rookie Zebo to showcase his talents

JOHNE MURPHY is backing Simon Zebo to show just how good he can be when Munster return to Thomond Park this weekend for the return Heineken Cup tie with Scarlets.

Zebo, 21, put in an accomplished first shift on the European stage in Munster’s 17-14 Pool 1 victory at Scarlets last Saturday, showing glimpses of the talent his coaches in the province have been so excited about as he has developed his game through the academy system.

Now the Cork wing, thrown into the Heineken Cup fray following the season-ending Achilles tendon injury suffered by Doug Howlett, has been challenged by his fellow back Murphy to prove he is a cut above.

“I have chatted a couple of time to Zebs and spoke to him just before the kick-off saying ‘this is your level. You are definitely a step above Magners League level’” Murphy said, following Munster’s win at Parc y Scarlets.

“It’s time to show everyone how good he is; the best way is to be just checked in there, no fear.

“Zebs had some unbelievable breaks and he’s one for the future.”

With Welsh teenage wing prodigy George North set to return from injury for the Scarlets at a sold-out Thomond Park on Sunday afternoon, rejoining emerging stars such as Jon Davies, Scott Williams and Rhys Priestland who dazzled for Wales at the World Cup in New Zealand, Zebo will be among a youthful group of exciting backs on display for the fourth-round pool game in Limerick, although it was very much the older hands who were to the fore in Llanelli in round three.

Priestland had an off-day with the boot and Munster’s intensity at the breakdown strangled much of Scarlets’ creativity at source. And of the two tries scored, it was Munster’s that most impressed, with Murphy playing an integral part in the move along with Ronan O’Gara, Denis Hurley and the tryscorer Niall Ronan.

The first-half try, which helped the visitors arrest a sloppy start that gifted Scarlets an 8-0 lead after nine minutes, certainly impressed head coach Tony McGahan: “It was a really good piece of counter-attacking and it was certainly great work from Denis Hurley with the offload and a nice interchange between Johne Murphy and Niall Ronan. Those little parts are what decided the game in the end.”

Murphy praised full-back Hurley’s offload and Ronan’s finish as well as the flanker’s all-around play in the Munster back row.

“It was good; some great counter-attack ball, a great offload from Denis and then a simple two-on-one and Niall finished it very well. His Sevens experience came through there to finish in the corner. Denis had a great carry, took two lads out and then a sweet offload out the back and that really did make it. He made sure he didn’t die with the ball and that made the try. It was a two-on-one and I was hoping that Sean (Lamont) would hit on me and he did. I was happy enough with that and Nialler did the rest for me.”