Here is a statistical analysis of Zebo's season in attack for Munster, Ireland in the 2017 Six Nations, and Ireland in the 2016-17 season – usual sources, ESPN Scrum.com and Munster Rugby.goreyguy wrote:shite comparison.
Zebo's averages for Munster 2016-17 [10 games]
Tries/Assists: 6/1
Metres Run: 39m [39.2m]
Possessions: 16
Kicks: 3
Passes: 4 [3.5]
Runs: 9 [8.5]
Clean Breaks: 1 [0.7]
Defenders Beaten: 2 [1.5]
Offloads: 0 [0.2]
Zebo's averages for Ireland 2017 Six Nations [4 games]
Tries/Assists: 0/2
Metres Run: 73m [73.25m]
Possessions: 23
Kicks: 4 [3.75]
Passes: 6 [5.5]
Runs: 13 [13.25]
Clean Breaks: 2
Defenders Beaten: 2.5
Offloads: 0
Zebo's averages for Ireland 2016-17 Season [7 games]
Tries/Assists: 1/3
Metres Run: 55m [55.3m]
Possessions: 20
Kicks: 3 [3.4]
Passes: 5 [5.0]
Runs: 12 [11.6]
Clean Breaks: 2 [1.7]
Defenders Beaten: 2 [2.0]
Offloads: 2 [0.3]
On average, Zebo gets more ball, passes more, runs more, makes more breaks and beats more defenders for Ireland than he does for Munster. The offloading difference is negligible, but still in favour for his Irish games - 2 in 7 games for Ireland, 2 in 10 games for Munster. The only thing he doesn't do is score more tries. He's playing against better defenses, which probably goes a long way to explaining that. Ireland have averaged 3 tries/game over those 7 games though.
Zebo's not playing badly at all, in any case. Most of Ireland's backs are playing decent enough stuff, including the much criticised Rob Kearney, in my opinion. It's just that nobody [bar Sexton and Murray against France] has played at or near the very top of their game thus far in any of the three tight games; they were all excellent against Italy though.