Simon Zebo was in the Premier Sports studio as Munster's mixed season took another turn with a 28-34 defeat to Edinburgh in Cork - their first away win in the URC since April.
Edinburgh took an early lead when Ross Thompson kicked between the posts for the visitors before Alex Nankivell responded in-kind to put the hosts 7-3 ahead.
"On his return to the Munster team!" 🎙️
Alex Nankivell is back and he has opened the scoring for @Munsterrugby in Cork 🔴 pic.twitter.com/NpGLAqvX9t
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 28, 2025
However, Thompson would score a try before and Edinburgh forged a sizable gap when Matthew Currie scored two of his own at Virgin Media Park.
The Scottish side added a fourth try on the cusp on the half-time break to make it 29-7, leaving the onlooking crowd in Cork stunned.
Nankivell helped cut the gap again with another try but Munster's defensive frailties continued and Currie got his hat-trick to halt Munster's short-lived momentum.
Ben O'Connor profited off good work from Alex Kendellen to get Munster's third, before Sean O'Brien salvaged the bonus-point in leaving Billy Burns the conversion.
Zebo was far from impressed with his former team's showing, reflecting: "It is (a really disappointing performance).
"Particularly the first-half. You'd like to think there will be a big reaction after that performance because they will be very disappointed with that.
"The bench did help Munster a lot. There was good impact from O'Brien, Kendellen, Archer and Barron and physically they started to stand up to Edinburgh."
Simon Zebo took aim at one Munster issue in particular
He was however, particularly perturbed with what he saw for Currie's third try, with Billy Burns in the backfield among a sea of miscommunciation as Edinburgh scored what was the decisive score.
This cannot happen at a professional level...
"Edinburgh had set up to kick. The (Edinburgh) 10 is deep in the pocket and yet we get no movement in the (Munster) backfield.
"Billy Burns goes the opposite way which I can't get my head around... you deserve to get punished when your backfield is that poor. They need to revert to taking pride in it. It was nowhere near good enough.
"Having been a player who takes good pride in covering those spaces - to see it not there - is infuriating.
"In that fullback role - where Billy Burns was - you need to be constantly talking to your wingers and be aware of the kick that is going to come. It is bizarre to me how that (try) can happen at this level."
Matt Currie hat-trick 🔥
What a display from the @EdinburghRugby man and his teammates against Munster 👏 pic.twitter.com/rM6U9lUmnR
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) February 28, 2025
Zebo had dig at ROG in tribute to Murray and O'Mahony
It is the end of an era for a Munster side which now knows that Chiefs boss Clayton McMillan will steer the ship from next season.
Munster legends Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray both look set to end their Munster careers at the end of this season with the pair announcing their impending Ireland retirements on Thursday.
Zebo played most of his rugby with both men for both province and country and paid a fitting tribute to the pair.
'Two legends of Munster and Irish rugby," he said
"Two dear friends who have given everything to the jersey and I'd some of the best years of my career playing along those two men.
"Two men who embody the Stand Up And Fight antra of Munster and they have had amazing careers and they deserve all the praise.
"They've done amazing things in both red and green so a big hat tip to them."
Asked what an ideal send-off would be for both men, Zebo shared his wish for them to claim the Six Nations Grand Slam before upsetting ex-teammate Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle in the Champions Cup.
'A Grand Slam would be very fitting and a nice European trophy would be amazing... we'll start off with a nice scalp in La Rochelle!
Asked if O'Gara would be kind enough to give them the win, Zebo quipped: 'No chance! He would love to bury them actually!"
"But two legends who have done amazing things over their glittering careers. Well done lads, ye were amazing."
