Munster legend issues ‘not going to lie’ warning to ‘haunted’ Leinster and hatches Finn Russell ‘poison’ plan
Leinster's Andrew Porter reacts after last May's Investec Champions Cup loss to Northampton and, inset, retired Munster legend Simon Zebo.
Simon Zebo has warned Leinster that time is short for this golden generation of players to claim the prize worthy of their all-star standing.
The Blues launch their Investec Champions Cup campaign this weekend as joint favourites with Toulouse to win the northern hemisphere’s blue riband tournament.
Leinster are the reigning United Rugby Championship champions and have just welcomed All Blacks star Rieko Ioane into their fold. They have reached three of the last four European finals and the 12 players they contributed to the British and Irish Lions’ initial squad this year was an all-time record for any club.
For all that, the Dublin-based club last won the Champions Cup in 2018. Saracens, Exeter, Toulouse (twice), La Rochelle (twice) and Bordeaux are more recent champions of Europe. Their last game in the competition back in May also saw them stunned in the semi-finals by rank underdogs Northampton.
“Definitely a very good reminder…”
“Will Leinster be haunted by that defeat? I hope they are, I’m not going to lie, I loved that,” said Zebo, a legend at arch-rival club Munster.
“Seriously, they’d be able to get over it. They’re all quality enough but, listen, that would have hurt. It’s been a good number of years since their last title.
“They have 12 Lions in their squad, what is it, 21 internationals? They’re essentially an international team and they haven’t won a Champions Cup since 2018.
“So that Northampton loss will hurt and it should because players’ primes, when they are at the peak of their powers, come and go quite quickly.
“It’s definitely a very good reminder that they will need to be on top form this year if they want to get a Champions Cup. They will have to be significantly better come semi-final, final time. If they are not, you could see it slipping away again.”
Leinster open up on Saturday evening at home to Harlequins, the Gallagher Prem team they demolished 62-0 in the round of 16 last season. When they beat Glasgow 52-0 a week later in the quarter-finals, they appeared unstoppable. How deceptive appearances can be.
Zebo watched them again in October when Munster travelled up to the capital and beat them at Croke Park with plenty to spare in the URC.
“They had so many class players on the pitch, yet there were so many nonchalant offloads and simple errors; so many balls to deck as if it was a training session, almost,” he said.
“They got caught on the hop. They didn’t strike me as a team playing in Croke Park in front of your home fans against your enemies, your arch rivals. Mentally, they weren’t switched on for that level that Munster brought, and they got punished correctly.”
Munster’s winning start to the season came to an end last Saturday when they blew a 21-6 half-time lead to lose to the URC-leading Stormers from Cape Town. With Bath, English champions and current Prem leaders, welcoming Clayton McMillan’s side to the Rec on Saturday night, Zebo knows they will need to be back to their best to avoid a second loss.
“Munster brought a European Cup intensity to the game against Leinster; they showed where they can get to mentally and emotionally,” he said. “The last ditch tackles, their want going into contact, their intent around the contact area: they were scrapping for everything.
“They didn’t show any fear around going to Croke Park, but Bath away is another huge test. It’s going to be an unbelievable game.
“Finn Russell, my old teammate at Racing, has told me they are really going for Europe this year. I’m going to take him out for dinner the night before and try to poison him!”
Russell is an obvious threat, but the Bath man to really worry Zebo is their other recruit from Paris-based Racing, Henry Arundell. The England wing comes into the game on the back of scoring a last-gasp try to beat Saracens in north west London on Sunday and return his team to the top of the Prem table.
“I watched Henry closely during his time at Racing and know how he likes to operate,” said Zebo. “He is electrically quick, he’s unbelievable.
“Any kick that finds grass in the backfield will have you on edge because you know he’s going to be breathing down your neck. He is not the full package yet but, honestly, the sky’s the limit for him.
“His point of difference, his X factor, is incredible. I love watching him play, and he has a massive, massive future. For sure, he’s going to be one of the stars of this Champions Cup.”
- Simon Zebo is part of the Premier Sports team bringing every game live throughout the Investec Champions Cup season including the Final in May 2026. All the action from a thrilling new season of international club rugby kicks off on Friday, with 15 EPCR games live on Premier Sports every weekend. Premier Sports broadcasts more than 400 top flight rugby fixtures every season from the Top 14, United Rugby Championship, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, Japan League One, Major League Rugby in USA and selected international rugby fixtures worldwide. Visit www.premiersports.com to join in from just £11.99 a month.
