1
Ireland outcast Simon Zebo has a message for James Lowe, the latest New Zealander to get an Irish cap
Ireland outcast Simon Zebo has wished James Lowe the best when the New Zealander makes his Test debut on Friday night for his adopted country after recently qualifying under the controversial three-year residency rule. Lowe will become the eleventh foreigner to qualify for Ireland since the IRFU embraced the project player scheme in 2012 when capping South African Richardt Strauss.
ADVERTISEMENT
This process allows imports from New Zealand, South Africa and elsewhere to become eligible for Ireland Test team selection after living in the country for a 36-month period.
However, while foreigners willing to live in Ireland have been embraced by the Irish team set-up, locally born and bred talents such as Racing 92’s Zebo are deemed ineligible for selection as they play for a club that isn’t based in Ireland.
Not since June 2017 had ex-Munster back Zebo been capped by Ireland, who have instead capped imports such as New Zealanders Bundee Aki, Jamison Gibson-Park and now Lowe along with South African Jean Kleyn in recent times. Zebo doesn’t hold anything against the likes of Lowe, who played for the New Zealand Maori in 2017 versus the Lions.
What he does have an issue with is how he is viewed as ineligible to be part of an international team he represented on 35 occasions. No matter how well he performs in the Top 14, he frustratingly knows he won’t be considered for Ireland selection by current boss Andy Farrell, who has adopted the same stance as his predecessor, Joe Schmidt.
Cracking episode of RugbyPass Offload with Ryan, Jamie and Zeebs joining Christina on this week's episode.
iTunes – https://t.co/Q6a38CJbIB
Spotify – https://t.co/4vFwOUT5geTunnelgate, Autumn Nations Cup preview, Munster v Ryan, beating England and lots lots more ? #RPOffload pic.twitter.com/Rwo99GOEDW
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 11, 2020
Appearing on the latest episode of RugbyPass Offload in the company of Jamie Roberts and Ryan Wilson, Zebo had no axe to grind over Farrell’s selection of Lowe to start against Wales in the Autumn Nations Cup. “To be fair, I have no issue with that,” he said. “More power to him [Lowe]. Go out and do your thing. He has been an integral part of Leinster the last couple of years. He has been banging in tries – he deserves it 100 per cent. I hope he goes out and has a great debut.
“Obviously I would love to be involved. That will probably never change. But not being eligible just because I play abroad would annoy me more than someone like James or Bundee (getting picked).
ADVERTISEMENT
“We saw when Johnny (Sexton) was playing abroad (at Racing). People say, ‘Oh, we’re protecting Irish rugby’, but how many players left when Johnny left? There wasn’t a big exodus. There hasn’t been a big exodus since I’ve left. That is a bit of a myth. It was the same when Tommy Bowe left to play for the Ospreys.
“The annoying thing would be that I am ineligible but definitely not any angst towards James or Bundee or these guys. They give it 100 per cent every time they play either provincially or for Ireland and power to them. But you hear stories of coaches in the past going out, ‘Come play in Ireland, you’ll play for Ireland’. There probably has to be a bit more value put on the Irish jersey or what it means to Irish people to play for their country.
“At times the business side of rugby can take over a bit more when it comes to wanting to win games. There are a few things that I wouldn’t agree with but for people like James, Bundee and these guys, CJ (Stander), more power to them. They are great players and they only add to the team.”
From bench journeyman to starting Ireland No9 ???? https://t.co/6LrOddDJ75
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 10, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Hopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
1 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
71 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
71 Go to commentsYep, lost in translation. There are arrogant people in Ireland, yes. As there are arrogant people in every country, but as a nation, arrogance is not a general characteristic in Ireland. There has not really had a strong representation for any global sport over the years, and hence arrogance is not endemic to Irish people in this regard. I seriously doubt that was said or meant by 12 or 13 players. If it was said, it would have been said in jest and to pay Etzebeth and the Springboks a compliment for how hard fought the game was.
71 Go to commentsOne of the few Bidwell articles I can agree with. If coaches played their players through niggles and consistently played them 80mins then you could make an argument for resting protocols - they obviously don’t and are incredibly responsible, let’s give up the resting nonsense and let the boys play.
4 Go to commentsDaniel Gallan, please for the love of all that is holy, stop writing about rugby. Or at the very least stop telling people you are South African.
21 Go to commentsThis Dr.Rassie 6-2 filth is spreading. We need to ask World Rugby to ban something
1 Go to commentsPity he couldn’t call him a liar to his face, such a brave man.
71 Go to comments“You ain’t counting to 12 or 13 straight after a game, son!” Just because you don’t doesn’t mean everyone else doesn’t “I reckon if anyone said it they would have said, ‘Hopefully, see you in the final’.” Oh, you “reckon”, do you? You weren’t there, you weren’t part of the conversation but you know what was said… Id10T
71 Go to commentsNZ has such a rich history of quality number nines, and woman beaters.
1 Go to commentsThat’s what happens when you are scared of scrums
3 Go to comments