Simon Zebo not on a total wing and a prayer when it comes to Lions

This is not a Simon Zebo interview. It's more a few questions which he readily answered during a brief sit down with a gaggle of journalists this week at Carton House.

The next proper Zebo interview will be interesting. When it happens he may have become a Lion. He definitely should have become a key figure in Ireland’s attack. He may have become both.

Still only 23, the Cork winger was cruising towards the Australia tour in comparable fashion to Luke Fitzgerald in 2009. His Leinster counterpart produced enough crackling performances to make it all the way to the Test series in South Africa.

A ruptured knee ligament befell Fitzgerald the following November and a succession of nightmarish injuries have followed in quick succession.

Zebo's rise was halted a little earlier in this all-important season. After some stunning tries for Munster, he lit up the Six Nations by finishing off a magical Brian O'Driscoll break against Wales.

Then came that flick.

Then came a broken foot against England. Then he was gone. Largely out of sight until a fine performance, scavenging off the wing to help Munster famously mow down Harlequins at The Stoop.

But it wasn’t deemed enough. Tommy Bowe regained fitness in the nick of time, while Alex Cuthbert’s bigger, albeit it slower, threat edged him out of the trip of a lifetime to Australia.

Sean Maitland’s try-scoring record, more for Canterbury than Scotland, damaged his prospects as well. That must have hurt most of all; a New Zealand-born man ensuring Cork had no representation with the Lions.

“I suppose I was initially very disappointed. It would have been a hugely exciting tour to get a chance to go on and play. It was disappointing for a couple of days after.

“But, after that, I quickly switched and there is an exciting tour to the States and Canada. It is not the worst of places to get a chance to go to when you are at the back of a long season.”

Surely, like Rory Best, he is on stand-by?

“I haven’t been told yet I was on standby. I haven’t a clue to be honest. Everybody had to do the suits and all that. Yeah, gutted.”

The silver lining in all this is the Simon Zebo-Joe Schmidt relationship can begin when the squad gets to Toronto. They seem like the perfect match.

“Definitely. I was chatting to Ian Madigan there a while ago and he was just telling me how much I am going to enjoy working under him because everything he does is about getting the ball wide.

“He just loves seeing ball in wingers’ hands. It would be great for me. Whenever I have the ball in my hands, I’m happy. It should be exciting times ahead with Joe.”

At least it means the November experiment can be revisited. Many had Zebo set up for a fall when Declan Kidney and Les Kiss agreed that, with Rob Kearney injured, he should be Ireland’s fullback. His kicking game and natural agility made it a success.

“I am happy either or. I am just excited that I can play in both. It is another string to the bow. If I am asked to play there, I gladly would.

“I don’t even know where I’ll end up, personally, in a couple of years fifteen or wing, whichever is able to get me more ball, I suppose, I would be happier playing.

Anyway, that’s it. This was not a Simon Zebo interview. Just a footnote before the next chapter in the most promising of rugby careers.