Revved-up Zebo knows fast start vital against champions

Simon Zebo believes Munster must come storming out of the blocks to produce another of their typical Heineken Cup shocks against Toulon at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Sunday.

Munster’s flying Ireland winger admitted the opening 20 minutes of last year’s semi-final against Clermont Auvergne cost them the game and a place in the decider.

“Last year’s semi is long gone but we’ve taken one or two things from it,” he said.

“We know we can’t afford to wait 20 minutes into this game or else we’ll be blown away. Last year we came out of the blocks a little too late and we suffered in the 80th minute.

“We just came up short. We’d be looking to come as early as we did against Toulouse and hopefully lift the pace and up the ante in the first 20.

“That should give us a chance of being in there or thereabouts at the end of the game. It was probably the bounce of a ball that beat us last year. Casey [Laulala] nearly snuck in to win it for us.”

But with that experience behind him, Zebo isn’t concerned that Munster have been cast as underdogs. Yes, taking on the holders in France is a challenge, but it’s an exciting one.

“I get more excited about these type of games. Mentally it wouldn’t make me feel like going to a daunting place,” he said. “It’s exciting and I just want to get my hands on the ball even more so. We did have quite a young squad last year and as whole we weren’t used to going to the south of France and playing in such a crazy atmosphere.

“We’re used to it now, we know what it’s all about now and instead of starting from minute 20, we have to start at minute one.”

Zebo is in no doubt as to what’s coming down the track in terms of quality and quantity.

“They’re such a strong outfit we’re just going to have to hang in there, like Ali on the ropes, at some stage in the game for some 10, 15 or 20-minute period where they’re on top.

“We know this is coming. We know what to expect, and we have to take full advantage of our period when we’re on top of them, maximise our points and get as many scores on the board as we can.

“They’ve got a massive pack and they’re very dangerous backs on go-forward ball so it’s going to start with our numbers one to eight. If we can match them and slow down their momentum our backs will then have to do a job on their backs.”

Amongst those backs will be household names like Jonny Wilkinson and Bryan Habana. Again, rather than being frightened, Zebo is looking forward to testing himself against such stars.

“They could put out their second team and it would still be an unbelievable side, but we tend to just really focus on our own preparation for the game, make sure everybody’s mentally right and ready for the massive task that’s at hand.

“When I was a kid I used watch Bryan Habana a lot and so it’s a bit surreal that I get to play against him. But I relish these occasions, it was the same with [Sitiveni] Sivivatu last year in Clermont. I love playing against quality players. It brings the best out of players I think when you really have a tough test on your hands.”

And with that in mind he is sure of one thing — Munster will give it everything.

“We’d be very comfortable with matching any of these players for heart, for physicality, strength or pace, although we’re going to have to deliver 10-fold on all aspects of our play on Sunday.

“They have got some star-studded names on their team sheet but I’d back our back line against any back line in the world.”