Simon Zebo: 'I would have been very surprised' if Ronan O'Gara took Leinster job

The La Rochelle head coach is expected to remain at the club, where his former teammate expects him to lead a double bid. 

Simon Zebo is part of the Premier Sports team bringing live rugby from BKT United Rugby Championship, Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.

Simon Zebo would have been surprised if Ronan O’Gara left La Rochelle for Leinster, believing the former Ireland out-half has unfinished business in France as he aims for an "astronomical" Top 14 and Champions Cup double.

Reports in France this week, coming after La Rochelle's dramatic opening Top 14 comeback win against Toulouse, suggest that there has been a breakthrough in negotiations for O'Gara to remain with the club until at least 2031.

“I would have been very surprised if he had taken that job, as I would have been if he had taken the England job a while back,” said Zebo.

“He’s an ambitious fella and an incredible coach, a top-level coach; one of the best young coaches in the world. ROG would reckon he could improve any squad in the world, Leinster included, as they have struggled to get that fifth European star on their jersey.

“The La Rochelle squad seems to be on the way back as well and I know his set-up over there, the people he has around him, and it’s so good. His family is so happy and has built a beautiful life over there.

“It would be a very attractive offer to get him away from that. So if it’s an extension with La Rochelle or going straight to an international job, I wouldn’t be surprised. If it was Leinster, I would be a little surprised.

“But I think he wants to get La Rochelle back to the top in Europe. And to do the double with the Top 14 title - that would be astronomical.” Closer to home, Zebo expects Munster to face significant challenges in the first half of the season without Jack Crowley, with the 26-year-old out-half not expected back until the new year following a rare lower-limb vascular injury.

“It’s not a great start,” said Zebo. “Not going to lie, he’s one of our key figures, a talisman. He’s of massive importance to Munster and it’s not set in stone that he’ll be back in January, everything has to go to plan for that. You just wish Jack a healthy recovery.

“It’s going to be a challenge for Munster and it’s a massive opportunity for the next in line. For Tom Wood, it’s a case of, ‘Now you’re going to get your chance.’ It’s going to be very interesting to see if he’s ready or not to step up.” Zebo believes Craig Casey will also have an important role to play as Munster adapt to Crowley’s absence.

“There’s a really good core, the lads up front, they work really hard,” he said. “Craig’s role will have a lot of bearing on whether they are able to go well in this first block of the season without one of their best players.

“It’s a bit of moving things around. Players will get opportunities, it’s going to be a case of the workload being spread out a little bit more.” Calvin Nash’s return would provide another boost. The Munster winger is recovering from hamstring surgery and Zebo believes his pace will be crucial when he is ready to play again.

“Massively important to have Calvin back as soon as possible,” he said. “He’s that extra bit of pace. When he’s not on the pitch, you notice that Munster lack a little bit. When he’s at his very best, he’s in the mix to be a starter with Ireland.” Nash’s absence also feeds into a wider debate about Ireland’s wing options, with Zebo urging Andy Farrell to reward players who are performing rather than relying too heavily on established reputations.

“I just like to see fellas rewarded for form,” said Zebo. “Andy has a lot of trust in lads who have been there and done it with him in particular. I’d just like to see whichever wingers are scoring tries and ripping it up get their opportunity.

“It’s been the case in the past that trust could overpower some lads’ early form, but hopefully that changes a bit, especially going into a World Cup year where one or two injuries could throw up anything.

“You’d like to see lads rewarded for form, early doors. Give guys a chance, it being at the start of a World Cup year.” 

With James Lowe now playing in Japan, Zebo believes Jimmy O’Brien and Shane Daly should come into the selection picture. Mack Hansen, Tommy O’Brien, Robert Baloucoune, Jacob Stockdale and Shayne Bolton will also be in the frame.

He points to South Africa’s quick transformation under Rassie Erasmus from nowhere to back-to-back world champions as proof that rotation and selection on form can pay dividends.

“One of the biggest mistakes we’ll make is if we don’t rotate enough ahead of the World Cup,” he said. “We’ve been caught being short-sighted in the past. We saw how important squad depth was last quarter-final, the quarter-final before that, the quarter-final before that.

“Picking the players who are most in form at all times is most important. I hope that happens.”