Simon Zebo: Leinster's new siege mentality and 'arrogant' approach of the past
Simon Zebo claims arrogance is part of the reason why Leinster are desperate to break a four-year wait for silverware on Saturday.The former Munster and Ireland star doesn't believe that the Blues are over their Champions Cup hangover, despite looking more focused against Glasgow in the URC semi-final last week.But he believes the siege mentality that the province has projected since their unconvincing URC quarter-final victory over Scarlets can work in their favour in the Grand Final showdown with the Bulls at Croke Park.The 2021 URC decider was the last time that Leo Cullen's charges lifted a trophy. Since then, they have come so close in the Champions Cup but fell short in two finals and two semi-finals, and that has fed into their failure to reach the URC final until now.
"A bit of it would be mental," said former Munster and Ireland star Zebo. "There were a few selection calls in the past. When Munster beat them in that semi-final (in 2023), they rested a lot of the bigger players and it was a very weakened team.
"There were a couple of little arrogant things through selection. But when they're fully loaded, they're an incredible team. It's a bit of a headache. Now those players have to play three games back to back to back.
"Will the third one sting them? I don't know. They usually rotate quite a lot. It's not all mental, but it's part of it for sure."
Speaking after last weekend's semi-final win over Glasgow, Joe McCarthy claimed 'everyone loves to hate Leinster so that definitely drives us on'.
Zebo believes such a mindset could benefit Leinster after a succession of play-off failures. "They're probably out to prove people wrong and that will probably help," he said."Their previous mentality hasn't worked so I suppose going in with a fresh mindset, maybe Jack Nienaber might have had some insight there, he's a brilliant motivator and gets the players going."I don't like Leinster, just because they're rivals. Munster dislike them and they dislike Munster, that's no problem. It's like Barcelona and Real Madrid in soccer. Of course you don't like your rivals - but I don't think the general public hate Leinster as much as maybe they believe inside the camp. I don't know, maybe I'm wrong."However Zebo does believe opposition coaches are right to mention the gulf that exists between their clubs and Leinster in terms of finance and resources."There's 15 internationals or maybe more, I don't know how many internationals they have," said the former Ireland star. "They have 12 Lions, the biggest representation ever. They have loads of money, they have private schools. They have everything. "They have a different mindset to other teams who are backs against the wall and underdogs and stuff. I can see why other coaches (say that). "They are favourites in nearly every game for a reason, you know. They have a class team, class players. So yeah, they're not hated - but people want to see the underdogs win and they're never the underdogs."For many, Leinster's 37-19 victory over the defending champions last week was a welcome return to normality after their Champions Cup disappointment.
Zebo doesn't agree that the hangover is over. "No, I thought Glasgow were poor," he stressed. "I thought Leinster were good without being great. The Bulls will be very different."I felt Leinster did up their game and Glasgow weren't as good as I thought they would be. Again, the Bulls will definitely be better. Whether or not they win I don't know, but I'm not convinced yet.
"I don't think the performances since Northampton from Leinster and those 12 Lions were back to their best rugby. Not yet anyway, but they are all capable of doing that.'When the final is over, the Lions dozen will turn their thoughts to touring - and that initial game against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium."If they were able to win collectively and get the first title over the Bulls, then they'd be walking with a little bit of a swagger into camp as opposed to being on the edge," said Zebo, who toured in 2013 when the Lions were last in Australia."It would boost their confidence a bit but there's other confident lads there too. There's top operators across the board, not just that Leinster contingent. 'For sure it will definitely help the confidence and the momentum, especially with the Lions core being Irish-heavy. If those lads perform and pick up the URC that will bring a lot of confidence back and it will bode well for the squad as a whole.
'So it is a pretty important fixture this week. There is a lot of pressure on Leinster and looking down the line at the Lions and form and getting picked then this match has huge significance, for sure.'
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