Zebo: Nothing Less Than A Win Is Acceptable
Winger Simon Zebo is wary of the threat posed by an ever-improving Zebre team as Munster make the trip south to Italy for round 13 of the GUINNESS PRO12 this weekend.
In Munster’s last encounter with Zebre, Simon Zebo scored his third hat-trick of tries for the province. However, Saturday’s clash in Parma will prove to be a far stiffer test for the Corkman and his colleagues.
Since their visit to Limerick, the Italian outfit have picked up a number of big scalps, including Ulster. Add to this that it is Zebre who enjoy home advantage this weekend and the Munstermen know a big improvement on their recent performance against Connacht is required if they are to return to winning ways in the PRO12.
“It’s going to be a massive game and we’ll be looking to build momentum over this block of games we’ve got coming up. We need to right a performance that certainly was below par last weekend,” admitted Zebo, referring to the 24-16 loss in Galway.
“We need to get some consistency but first and foremost this weekend we need to put in a big performance and fingers crossed it will be enough to get a win.”
The fleet-footed Ireland international (pictured above, ‘interviewing’ Dave O’Callaghan after training!) added: “Zebre are not an easy side to go and visit. They’ve got their bruisers and a hostile atmosphere. As well as their victories over Ulster and Edinburgh, they’ve run lots of teams close down there (including a one-point loss to the table-topping Ospreys).
“If you take them for granted, especially at home, you’ll leave the field with egg on your face so we’ll be going to put in a big performance. We’ve a massive task ahead in the next few weeks and it all starts with Zebre this weekend.
“They base their game around physicality and try to bully teams up front, making games scrappy and picking up wins. We’ll have to match them physically and hopefully then we can get a bit of ball out wide also.
“We go over there with a point to prove after a poor performance last weekend and nothing less than a win will be acceptable. But it won’t be easy, they’re a rugged side and they’ve been unlucky not to get more wins under their belt so we need to up it this weekend.”