It was just as well the campus in Cork Institute of Technology was deserted when Ronan O’Gara drove into Munster training yesterday afternoon, or the rumour machine would have gone into overdrive on Leeside last night.
O’Gara was not drafted in for some specialist kicking coaching or intricate backline movements for his beloved Munster in their hour of need, rather his presence there was to lend a hand to some fundraising for Crumlin Chidren’s Hospital.
Of course, all Simon Zebo needs now is being associated with a move to Racing Metro – there aren’t too many French clubs now he hasn’t been linked to – but the Munster winger, while affable as always in dealing with the endless contract questions, was again keeping his cards close to his chest on his future plans.
Last week’s declaration by Conor Murray that he wants to stay with Munster, even though nothing is finalised, has not resulted in others rushing to declare their intention to stay before deals are worked out.
“Conor is his own man! Whichever way he decides will be up to him. I think everyone is different. Whichever decision is best for me and my family that’s the decision I’ll make. “I just want to make sure it’s the best choice for me whichever thing happens. It’s something I’ll take time with to decide. It’s still quite slow at the moment so there hasn’t been much change. I don’t want to be rushed into anything,” said Zebo, adding that the contract issue was something he was taking in his stride.
“I wouldn’t take on too much stress. I can just park it. I’m pretty comfortable to let the people working for me sort that stuff out and let me focus on the rugby.”
Of more concern to him is Sunday’s date with Leinster and the desire to end a four-match losing run against their biggest rivals who need the win every bit as much as they do after four Champions Cup losses. “Both teams need to get some winning momentum. We’re on the back of a couple of losses. We’d set higher standards than that, so hopefully we’ll get the win this weekend because we need it and we’ve been showing some great signs of attacking play.
“People have been criticising us but . . . I think it’s going to click sometime very soon, and hopefully it can be this weekend.”
It may be Christmas week but Zebo said the run of losses had ensured there was no let-up in training this week.
“There’s a bit of bite. People are frustrated as you can imagine. I think the staff have showed enough of their frustration to the side and now it’s up to us to go out and fix that because we’re the ones out there on the pitch playing the games.
“I think there’s only so much hitting with a stick one can take so we have to get a result now at whatever cost. We just need to focus on getting the win because there’s a lot of frustration and we need to get relaxed going into the next block of games.”
There is also the matter of the Irish camp and the Six Nations around the corner but Zebo dismissed the notion that Sunday was an ideal opportunity for players to display their wares to Joe Schmidt.
“Doesn’t come into my head at all to be honest. I’m just focusing on playing well for Munster, and just continuing to get my hands on the ball and do what I can do to help the team.”
But he doesn’t see this clash as being any more important than previous meetings because of the run of losses being suffered by the old rivals.
“The importance we hold the game - I don’t think it could ever be more important one year and less important another year. It’s one of the biggest rivalries in rugby.
“Collectively, obviously, when we’re in Irish camp we’re all like brothers and friends but it’s the polar opposite when we’re with our provinces. I think the win is massively important to each side.
“To lose to them in Thomond Park would be unacceptable and that would go along with four other unacceptable performances that we’ve had so we can’t afford them so we need to get the win this weekend,” he added.
