HEAD COACH JOE Schmidt says the ‘wear and tear’ Simon Zebo has built up during nine consecutive games for Ireland partly explains the decision to include Luke Fitzgerald on the left wing for Saturday’s clash with Scotland.
Schmidt has been pleased with Zebo’s reaction in training. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
The Munster man drops out of the match day altogether, although he will travel with Ireland to Edinburgh this evening and provide back-up to Schmidt’s 23.
Schmidt unsurprisingly admitted that both Zebo and Jack McGrath – who has been replaced by Cian Healy in the starting XV for this Six Nations clash – were disappointed to learn of their fate earlier this week.
“Probably with Simon, he started the last nine Test matches for us and he’s played throughout the Six Nations for us and he’s just showing signs of wear and tear, he’s got a few niggles,” said Schmidt this afternoon in Carton House when asked to outline his thinking in making the two changes.
“We just wanted to have somebody that’s at 100% [Fitzgerald], as opposed to someone who has fitted in really well, has worked incredibly hard on their game, but is just starting to show those signs of wear and tear.
“I think if you’re forever coming off the bench, you don’t get as much time in the team and for Cian to get comfortable in the week. They’ve shared a bit of time in the last two matches anyway.”
When asked how Zebo and McGrath had handled the news of their dropping, Schmidt pointed to the positive attitude of both players. Having started Ireland’s first four games of the championship, Zebo unsurprisingly did not agree that his body needed a break.
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