There were sub-plots all over Galway tonight.
Aside from the obvious Connacht versus Munster battle in the Guinness PRO14, the announcement of Simon Zebo’s departure to France’s Top 14 and Joe Schmidt’s Ireland squad added more zing to affairs.
Connacht lined up with a team that contained two men that would have been hurt by that squad confirmation – Finlay Bealham and Tiernan O’Halloran – while Bundee Aki, who was included, is the latest Irish-qualified player to cop an earful from those that loathe the residency rule.
Munster had two men in their backline that we would put down as November internationals certainties – Rory Scannell and Zebo himself. The Cork native is being lined up by Racing 92 for a move to Paris and Schmidt has steadfastly followed the IRFU directive to give preference to players committed to Irish provinces.
Many expected Zebo to be exiled from next summer on but he was not included in Schmidt’s 38-man squad and his Test future is in doubt. Irish fans may learn more, on Tuesday, when Schmidt addresses the media for the first time since the summer tours.
So, plenty of points to prove and even more to keep an eye on.
The first battle was between CJ Stander and Aki. The South African drove the Kiwi back a yard but was stripped of the ball in contact. Having them both on one Ireland team, next month, should be fun.
Stander was the bludgeoning weapon for Munster in the early exchanges but it was a back-pedalling scrum that saw the first try come to pass. Connacht got a great shove on but Kieran Marmion spilled forward just as he looked to claim a huge turnover. Scannell picked and went in one fluid move before tipping a fine pass to Zebo.
The Munster 15 still had green jerseys to beat but he did so as he carried two men over the line as he crashed over for a fine try.
Úd ag @Munsterrugby & ag @SimonZebo!
A try for Munster in the Sportsground @PRO14Official ar @TG4TV #CONvMUN @MRSC16 @TheLooseH pic.twitter.com/ItP4MhujYB— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) October 27, 2017
The 27-year-old may not be in the Ireland squad but he only needed three minutes to prove what many Irish rugby fans believe – that he is the best fullback in the country. There is no doubt that he is definitely in the top three 15s in the country. None at all.
There was a swift, inevitable reaction to the score. It was his 58th try for Munster, extending his record with the province even further.
Didn't take long for @SimonZebo to produce a What do you think of that Joe Schmidt!?!? moment!! #MunsterAbú #CONvMUN
— Brendan (@BrendanH3) October 27, 2017
Zebo 1 Schmidt 0
— Mike Aherne (@AherneMike95) October 27, 2017
#CONvMUN #simonzebo pic.twitter.com/PA3q7DOhEV
— michael coghlan (@mikeydepikey) October 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/MJMAHONY/status/923983342881689600
Great try by the one and only @SimonZebo . Great start to the game. Just what we wanted #CONvMUN @MRSC16 @LimLive95fm. Cracking game
— Eoghan Ryan (@EoghanRyan13) October 27, 2017
It was O’Halloran’s turn, next, to stand up and show what he could do.
The Connacht fullback, who excelled for Ireland over the summer, bounced Keith Earls in one exchange before racing in a fine try, on 24 minutes. The try assist? Bundee Aki.
This stuff practically writes itself…
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