Utility man Simon Zebo ready for the call

It doesn’t seem so long since Simon Zebo was struggling for a first audition under Joe Schmidt, but the Munster man’s worth to the national cause continues to expand with the head coach giving him the nod to start again at full-back against England tomorrow.

Initially frozen out of Schmidt’s Ireland plans, Zebo finally fought his way in to make nine consecutive appearances on the wing, though his place in the firmament was questioned again when left out of the Six Nations decider against Scotland last March.

Not now. He banked 45 minutes on the wing against Wales as a replacement in the opening World Cup warm-up and then started at full-back against Scotland. Though rested against the Welsh last week, he had done enough to warrant inclusion in the tournament squad of 31.