Zebo: ‘It’s All About The Collective’

Simon Zebo has insisted that Munster need to perform as a collective and not just individuals if they are to prevail against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night (ko 7pm).

“It’s definitely all about the collective. No individuals win games so it’s about going out there and putting in a good team performance, interlinking forwards and backs and hopefully getting points on the board early,” said Zebo, who has faced Leinster on four previous occasions.

“It’s like a Heineken Cup final every time we play so it’s going to be something special and we just need to get the win at the end. There’s a bit more bite to these Leinster games. It’s going to be a massive test for us all and we’re really looking forward to it as a squad."

The unpredictable winger is hoping to continue his good run of form since his return from injury in January. The 23-year-old missed three months of the season after cracking a bone in his left foot during the Heineken Cup defeat to Edinburgh but has scored five tries in seven appearances since his return.

“It’s really exciting for me now on the back of scoring a couple of tries and playing well for Munster during the Six Nations,” said Zebo, who will make his 60th appearance for his province on Saturday, if selected.

“I still have a lot to improve but the injury at the start of the season could be a blessing in disguise because I’m feeling really fresh. I’m just about hitting the peak around the business end provincially so it’s going to be a great few weeks for us,” he added.

With the game a sell-out, Zebo is expecting to see, and hear, plenty of Munster support in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night.

“The support we always get from Munster fans is brilliant, regardless of where we are all over the country and internationally. They’re great supporters so it’s going to be massive. At times I’m sure we’re going to be hearing 'The Fields of Athenry' and 'Stand up and Fight', we’ll be going out there to do one for the supporters too and get another win against these boys.”

The game is followed by a Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse at Thomond Park and Zebo can only see the positives in playing two such high-quality games in succession.

“We need to feel the intensity of such a big game and properly open up the lungs and really understand the pressure situations and get more used to them going into the Heineken Cup because this game could be won by a point and it could be the same the following week.

"The more we’re used to winning these tight games it will only benefit us in the long run.”