SIMON Zebo didn’t spare his old teammates while analysing Munster slumping to a sloppy home defeat to Edinburgh.
The visitors led 29-7 by half-time and ultimately triumphed at Musgrave Park by 34-28.
Zebo winced as he said he was always a player who prided himself on guarding against these sorts of scores occurring[/caption]
But while the bulk of the damage was done in the opening 40 minutes, the worst defensive lapse came after 57.
Matt Currie capitalised on a kick and chase being allowed to bounce on the edge of Munster’s 22 as he eventually secured possession as he barrelled over to complete his hat-trick of tries.
Alan Quinlan in commentary labelled the defending on show ‘shocking’ as well as ‘dreadful’.
And his former teammate was equally blunt in the studio afterwards.
Billy Burns in particular came in for heavy criticism since he was filling in at full-back.
Zebo emphasized: “This cannot happen at the professional level. Edinburgh had set up to kick.
“The fly-half 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 can happen at this level.”
The Scottish outfit stunned the home crowd with two Currie tries and one each from Ross Thompson and Magnus Bradbury in that devastating opening half.
https://twitter.com/PremSportsTV/status/1895579901429756070
Munster centre Alex Nankivell touched down in either half, but the Reds were unable to avoid a first loss in 11 URC matches on Leeside.
The hosts did at least salvage two bonus points through Ben O’Connor and Seán O’Brien.
It was an especially noteworthy result as it was Edinburgh’s first win over Munster since November 2019.
SCORERS — Munster: Tries, A Nankivell 2, B O’Connor, S O’Brien, cons, B Burns 3, T Butler.
Edinburgh: Tries, M Currie 3, M Bradbury, R Thompson; cons, Thompson 3; pen, Thompson.
