Winger Zebo proves a tasty dish

THE CULT hero down Munster way has traditionally come in one mould. Think Mick Galwey, Anthony Foley, Peter Clohessy, Jim Williams and assorted others. Simon Zebo might, however, be about to change the template. On Saturday he became the first Munster player to score a Heineken Cup hat-trick since the aforementioned Foley managed the feat against Biarritz back in 2001, an achievement that earned the number eight free pizza for life from a Limerick restaurant.

There is no news yet as to whether the 21-year-old will be granted the same tasty reward but as stadium:mk echoed to the chorus of “Zebo, Zebo”, it’s pretty clear that the Munster faithful have taken to the winger.

In a sport where the individual is rarely celebrated above the team, the boy who likes to play with his socks around his ankles seems to have the style and swagger to become an exception to that particular rule.

And yet, listening to him, you just know it’s not going to affect him. “Ya, it’s awesome,” he says a little shyly when asked about the chants. But it’s not something he’s keen to dwell on. Even when talking about his three tries, he’s keen to spread the praise across the Munster backline. “It’s good to get on the scoreboard but the offloads of the Mafis and Denis Hurleys, the play-making of Ronan O’Gara, it makes it easier for me to score those tries. It’s nice to get on the score sheet but credit has to go to the boys inside me.”

It wasn’t all tries and swallow dives, though. The two Munster tries on the night that Zebo didn’t finish off both had their genesis in the endeavours of wingers chasing the ball down from a kick-off. “We don’t just want to kick deep and expect the next stage, we want to get possession back,” says Zebo. “It’s my job to contest those kicks and get down there and compete for the ball. If it helps out the lads, that’s what I have to do.”

Those around him are more than aware of his growing impact. “He has done great. He has big boots to fill coming in for Dougie but he has obviously learnt a lot from him,” says Paul O’Connell.

“I suppose a lot will be said about his three tries but I don’t know if as much will be said about his kick-chase which was a big thing for us in two tries, just after half-time and also in BJ’s try.”