Ex-Ireland star Simon Zebo insists that several Munster players can count themselves unfortunate for missing out on Andy Farrell’s squad after claiming the decisions were not “form-related”.
Farrell named a 34-man group ahead of the Autumn Nations Series as they prepare to take on the All Blacks, Japan, Wallabies and Springboks.
Remarkably, 21 of the players come from Leinster with Munster having just four representatives in the squad for next month’s matches.
Connacht are the next best with five but it is clear that the head coach still very much sees the Dublin-based outfit as the country’s leading light.
Munster’s statement win
Results and performances have justified that in previous years but, on Saturday, Munster stunned a strong Leinster side 31-14 at Croke Park.
Many of those that are likely to line up for Ireland against New Zealand in Chicago were completely outplayed and Zebo believes several Munstermen have been harshly overlooked.
The former back three star was asked on Premier Sports which individuals should be aggrieved and he responded: “A good chunk of them but more specifically the likes of Gavin Coombes has been hard done by again.
“His form in the opening couple of games has been fantastic. He’s been leading the Munster stats, which have been through the roof, as he always does. Michael Milne is another one who’s performed out of his skin in the last couple of games.
“He bagged a double last weekend and you’d think having more game time and moving away from Leinster like he’s told to do would get him inclusion in the national squad, but it hasn’t which has got to be disappointing for him.
“Lastly, someone like Tom Farrell, who just never seems to get a look-in. You’ve got to feel sorry for him at this stage.
“You’d think he maybe wouldn’t continue the form of last season and he’s jumped right back into the hotseat and kicked on as if he’s never left. He put up a fantastic performance last week.”
Leinster bias?
There have been accusations of Leinster bias towards Ireland, Farrell and the Irish Rugby Football Union and the latest squad did little to quieten the dissenters.
Zebo is one of those to question the decisions of the current head coach, who has consistently favoured individuals from Leo Cullen’s men.
Rather incredibly, eight of the nine front-rowers picked in the national squad come from that province with the likes of the aforementioned Milne being omitted.
“There are some players who are representing the other provinces who haven’t played any rugby, or very little rugby,” Zebo added. “It just doesn’t seem to be form-related which is disappointing.”