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Jackman backs Zebo to return to Irish setup

Former Leinster player Bernard Jackman believes that former Ireland regular Simon Zebo could play himself back into contention with the Irish setup.

Zebo has played 35 times for Ireland but has not been part of the Irish squad since the 2021 autumn internationals.

He is now behind the likes of Jimmy O'Brien, Hugo Keenan, and others in the pecking order. The Cork native will have his work cut out if he is to get in ahead of those players, who are considerably younger than him.

However, Jackman, speaking after Leinster's win over Munster, said that the wing position could be an option for Zebo if he does manage to receive a callup from Andy Farrell next year.

"Here's one for you: Could Simon Zebo force his way back into an Ireland selection?" Jackman told RTÉ.

"He was good again tonight. Obviously, we've seen so little of him, but he's played two very intense games, one against Leinster in Dublin and one tonight. If he got a run of form, what's the pecking order behind Hugo Keenan? Jimmy O'Brien, but he could end up playing on the wing."

Donncha O'Callaghan, a former colleague of Zebo's, believes that Zebo has the qualities that Ireland's Andy Farrell would like. O'Callaghan believes the Munster legend just needs to add consistency to his game.

Ireland's Simon Zebo [Picture: Inpho]

"He is the type of player that Farrell would pick. We look at Mack Hansen; it's just a bit unfortunate for Simon Zebo that in his time when he was at his peak, it was a coach like Joe Schmidt who was looking for him to do different things," he added.

"There's no doubting at any time that he is exciting. In the last game, he steps around Garry Ringrose—he's still got it; it's just about being able to put it back-to-back, as Bernard Jackman says. That's how you put your hand up for national level."

Jamie Heaslip, another former Ireland teammate of Zebo's, said that he believed that another player in Munster's back row, Tom Ahern, would be a more suitable pick for Farrell in the spring.

"If I put my Ireland hat on here, you had people like Ahern who stepped up—and I know they weren't on the winning side—but a lot of players here were putting their name in the hat for Ireland for the Six Nations," said Heaslip.

"That's what you want to see. That's why it's important these games are so tightly fought; it brings out the best in these guys, and they are basically trial games for the national side. We got a great trial game today."

Munster play Connacht on New Year's Day.

See More: Munster, Rugby, Simon Zebo