Simon Zebo: Ireland must counteract Springbok emphasis on opening exchanges
FAST START ESSENTIAL: Simon Zebo teamed up with BoyleSports to preview this weekend's RWC match between Ireland & South Africa. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
A good start is half the battle, as they say.
The first of Ireland’s two Rugby World Cup jousts began on the worst note possible, conceding within minutes of referee Nika Amashukeli's whistle against Romania.
That particular Gabriel Rupanu try was to be nothing but a minuscule blot on Ireland’s copybook on the way to an expected landslide victory.
For Munster back-three operator Simon Zebo, a slow start is something Andy Farrell’s Ireland can’t afford to do against this weekend’s opponents, the Springboks.
It’s a misstep that Rassie Erasmus' side will feed off.
“I think it’s very important we start well, Rassie always has a huge emphasis on the first 20 minutes,” Zebo began. “Laying down a marker, physicality-wise, so, (for Ireland) it’s about trying to combat that.
“The South African gameplan isn’t really built for chasing a game so if we can start well, you’d be fairly confident if we can grab a lead, they’re not going to get it back."
A bad start for Farrell’s men could play directly into Springbok hands, as Zebo explains.
“When they (Springboks) do go in front or start well - we could definitely pull it back - but that’s where their game is so strong, and they know it so well.
“They slow the game down, they just turn it into an absolute shit fight and make it incredibly physical. They look for lineouts, they’d almost knock the ball on, on purpose to get some scrums.”
Some key selection calls will be made in advance of the Saturday evening clash in Paris, calls that have been magnified even more so now that director of rugby Erasmus and head coach Jacques Nienaber have frontloaded their bench with seven bruising forwards.
Does Farrell inject extra size into the second-row partnership? Does that push Tadhg Beirne into the six jersey? Does Conor Murray’s skillset and form give him a chance of pipping Jamison Gibson-Park to the starting scrum-half berth?
Zebo’s opinion on the pack selection: Don’t fix what’s not broken.
“I’d stick with the same. I think Hendy (Iain Henderson) and these guys offer huge value off the bench as well. Hendy is an incredibly powerful player, so having someone like that to come on and help impact the game would be huge.
“I don’t think there’s been any reason to drop somebody out of the team for the South Africa game based on size. I think the lads are going well and they are improving game-on-game so I wouldn’t change too much."
For the 35-cap international, the primary selection headache lies at nine.
“Obviously, the big one would be Murr (Conor Murray) or (Jamison) Gibson-Park,” Zebo said. “Conor’s form has been excellent. He’s really bossing games, kicking well, passing well.
“He’s sniping around the ruck aggressively, which he hasn’t done in a while, he’s looking confident when he’s carrying the ball now.”
The 33-year-old added: “It’s just about adding strings to your bow. They’re both quality operators.”
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