Congratulations to Simon Zebo

[Flipper]

May not be a popular post but is zebo up to international standard . he has pace and is potent going forward but having watched him since bowen shield i have a fear for both his concentration and defence . a case in point was a game for con v garryowen this year as well as his ospreys sf performance . it would be a shame to see such an improving prospect loose his confidence and go backwards against the blacks

[taz]

I for one wish Zebo all the best. Kidney is putting his faith in Zebo's undoubted ability and NZ will not know too much about him.

[No. 16]

Is this a wind up?

Edit: OP not Taz. I mean the kid has earned his shot and it's the flipping All Blacks Flipper! You're not seriously worried about his confidence are you?

[B.A.]

May not be a popular post but is zebo up to international standard .

We're about to find out.. up against Dagg and Guildford. On his day, Dagg is the best attacking fullback in the world so Zebo's gonna have to front up defensively.

[BOK]

Only in this country would we come up with a thread like this on a fansite of the team with whom a great young player, about to make his international debut, plays for. Awful thread GWAN ZEBO

[i_like_cake]

Only in this country would we come up with a thread like this on a fansite of the team with whom a great young player, about to make his international debut, plays for. Awful thread GWAN ZEBO

agreed.... of course there are massive questions here... and as I said before, Deccie is damned if he does and damned if he doesn´t...

Give the young lads a run out.... and we should try and enjoy the games.... no one gives a **** about these games after a world cup year... lets see how the young fellas can play in the hardest place on earth they have to play....

The Irish will complain about everything, even after the year we have had...

[NotreDameRFC]

I think kidneys gambled on what our backs can give us attacking wise versus their frailty in defensive....given who we are playing its the right thing to do... may well lose 50-30 as opposed to 30-10 ..(or god forbid we win)

Losing this won't define zebo 's career....

Its massive test for him but i think kkidney has covered that gamble by picking our best 10 and best centres.

[munsterbouy]

It never did Brian O'driscoll or any of our all time greats any harm losing to the AB's everytime they played them....

[Valencia]

Begrudgery is not an Irish word for nathin...

Well done Simon Zebo..GWAN!

[taz]

Zebo is one guy who will benefit greatly from an opportunity like this. If he has a hard day at the office,he will learn from it and thats what is important.
Average age of the team is 26,very positive from Kidney. I have been downhearted by a lot of the same old same old approach,but I am way more positive now about Ireland rugby this morning
Along with Zebo,I hope FmcF ,Tuohy +Fitzpatrick gain from this selection.

[Big-al]

Is this a wind up?

Edit: OP not Taz. I mean the kid has earned his shot and it's the flipping All Blacks Flipper! You're not seriously worried about his confidence are you?

Gilroy has been better than him, younger too.

[No. 16]

Is this a wind up?

Edit: OP not Taz. I mean the kid has earned his shot and it's the flipping All Blacks Flipper! You're not seriously worried about his confidence are you?

Gilroy has been better than him, younger too.

Well al...there's no mistaking that wind up ;-)

[taz]

Gilroy has been better than him, younger too.

Gilroy should be in NZ with the squad in my opinion.

Still nice to see Mr Tuohy included ahead of others.

[mtcmolloy]

Gilroy has had his moments, but you can't argue with zebo's stats.
If you're suggesting zebo is too green, then you'd say the same
for gilroy.
I think the best response to this post, has already been said
somewhere here:

Denis hickie.

Leaked 4 tries v s terblanche on his debut, broke his jaw in
his next game, and then became arguably irelands greatest winger,
and one of the best defensive ones.

[cornerboy]

This is exactly the type of thread that has destroyed this forum....especially when started by someone with no history.

[blackadder]

Gilroy has been better than him, younger too.

Al, this thread has nothing to do with Gilroy, look if I had my way he'd be ahead of Zebo, but he isn't there and Zebo is and Zebo is in the team and fair play to the lad. He is a real try scoring threat and has had a pretty good season. We're always complaining about the lack of opportunities for youngsters in the Ireland team so well done Deccie on taking a bit of a gamble with Zebo and good luck to Simon.

[BOK]

We can discuss how he played after the game, and discuss if there are area`s we think he need`s to improve etc... aswell and hell there`s no better place to do it than on here BUT to start a thread bringing the young fella`s International credentials into question 2 days before he`s set to make his International debut is hugely unnecessary and done so in very bad taste in my opinion.

(edit) And come to think of it i think we should either change this thread topic and title to a good luck Simon Zebo thread or banish it altogether!!!

[Big-al]

So making a fool out of Zebo in an HEC QF, outshining him in last weeks Baas Baas game but quite a margin (judging by reports and the highlights) and keeping a high standard up all season, whilst maintaining a low error count (whereas Zebo is garenteed to make at least 1 error in each half) does not make Gilroy a better player?


What makes things worse was that Gilroy was clearly so much better than Zebo last week, yet he is told to go home, whilst Simon is rewarded with a test start.

Just doesn't add up.

[McCloud]

All the best to Zebo. Some day for him first cap and it's against the current world champions!

[blackadder]

So making a fool out of Zebo in an HEC QF, outshining him in last weeks Baas Baas game but quite a margin (judging by reports and the highlights) and keeping a high standard up all season, whilst maintaining a low error count (whereas Zebo is garenteed to make at least 1 error in each half) does not make Gilroy a better player?


What makes things worse was that Gilroy was clearly so much better than Zebo last week, yet he is told to go home, whilst Simon is rewarded with a test start.

Al, for the love of God this thread is about Simon Zebo...NOT Craig Gilroy...

[Big-al]

Has it ever appeared to you that I may have been writing that post at the same time that you initially replied?

[busby]

I think it's a fair question to ask.

I think he has all the tools in the attack, though i'd like to see him a bit more built up and conditioned.

Defensively is where the question marks are. Personally, i think he's a good tackler, but he can get caught out positionally and has shown some poor decision making. However i would say working with Les Kiss could be a major boost in this area.

It going to be serious experience for him and he'll be a better player for it, should really open his eyes playing with guys like BOD, nevermind some of the players he's against. I'm really looking forward to seeing how he goes. The boy doesn't lack confidence, and has a nack of getting tries. Kidney doesn't pick wild cards without reasoning.

[busby]

So making a fool out of Zebo in an HEC QF, outshining him in last weeks Baas Baas game but quite a margin (judging by reports and the highlights) and keeping a high standard up all season, whilst maintaining a low error count (whereas Zebo is garenteed to make at least 1 error in each half) does not make Gilroy a better player?


What makes things worse was that Gilroy was clearly so much better than Zebo last week, yet he is told to go home, whilst Simon is rewarded with a test start.

Just doesn't add up.

How can you possibly know that?

[No. 16]

So making a fool out of Zebo in an HEC QF, outshining him in last weeks Baas Baas game but quite a margin (judging by reports and the highlights) and keeping a high standard up all season, whilst maintaining a low error count (whereas Zebo is garenteed to make at least 1 error in each half) does not make Gilroy a better player?


What makes things worse was that Gilroy was clearly so much better than Zebo last week, yet he is told to go home, whilst Simon is rewarded with a test start.

Just doesn't add up.

al, it has been acknowledged that it is perhaps unfortunate for Gilroy not getting a shot in NZ. Could you leave it or at least tone it down a little? I suspect you are making objective remarks on performance and this is not pure provincial loyalty and he is probably not a personal friend of yours - I guess? He's younger as you remarked. He'll be OK. I wonder would you happily post that post to Simon personally before his shot against the ABs? You're a mean one Mr. Grinch!

[outside inside]

Have a stormer Zebo along with the other first caps .It used to be Paris as the first cap graveyard , Eden Park some place to make you debut . Gilroy's defence against the BA BA's is the reason he did not tour . Also not worried about our new THP against Woodcock , feeling positive this morning .

[Viigand]

I'm delighted to see Zebo and Fitzpatrick starting. It is long since time that we use these tours to develop new talent. I'm also happy to see the BOD-Earls combination being tried, something I have advocated for a log time.

[Balla Boy]

Given how the game is being played at the moment, what's the view on the value of of Zebo's boot? It's a bit of a siege gun in comparison to most back three players (bar Kearney) and would have been a factor not so long ago.

Does it still have some currency?

[NotreDameRFC]

To be fair both the original poster has a right to ask question and al has right to state the legitimate case of gilroy imo

id prefer that than this forum to turn into a narrow spectrum where people are queuing up to say gwan zebo.

Id rather have both.

[Hugonaut]

Given how the game is being played at the moment, what's the view on the value of of Zebo's boot? It's a bit of a siege gun in comparison to most back three players (bar Kearney) and would have been a factor not so long ago.

Does it still have some currency?

Not sure it's going to come into play. Kearney's a leftie as well, so if there are touch-kicks down the right hand side they'll look to him. The only way I can really see it being used is clearing from a mark ... but it's better to have it than not to have it.

[No. 16]

To be fair both the original poster has a right to ask question and al has right to state the legitimate case of gilroy imo

id prefer that than this forum to turn into a narrow spectrum where people are queuing up to say gwan zebo.

Id rather have both.

The OP does have a right to solicit analysis of Zebo's international readiness, but like that? However I was taken aback by the notion that being offered an opportunity to play against the All Blacks would have some sort of risk association with his confidence

al also has a right to make a case for Gilroy. However, he didn't at first and just threw it out there saying simply gilroy is younger and better (not much of a case and serves as an inadvertant wind-up). Then the case he made included calling Zebo a fool and that he is "garenteed" to make at least one error per half.

Actually - maybe someone should send that post directly to Zebo - anyone have his email address? Would that be a confidence breaker or one for dressing room wall?