Gerry Thornley: Don’t blame Bundee Aki for Simon Zebo’s exclusion

Everywhere you went this past week, Simon Zebo was the talk of Irish rugby. His decision to up sticks and leave Munster at the end of this season transcended provincial boundaries. Zebo is, pound for pound, probably the most exciting and entertaining player in these shores. He's a bit of a one-off. The Irish system does not produce too many players like him. We'll all miss him.

Somehow, his impending departure seems almost to be the most disappointing loss to the Irish system in the professional era, and certainly of latter years. Even Johnny Sexton’s departure to Racing 92, where Zebo is expected to end up, did not take him out of a World Cup and, by extension, the Irish set-up.

To not see Zebo’s name in the 38-man Irish squad for the Guinness Autumn Series was virtually as inevitable as it was brutally swift, and compounded the sense of disappointment over his leaving. That it coincided with Bundee Aki being named in it for the first time has, however, unfairly led to him being portrayed as the Big Bad Wolf to Zebo’s Little Red Riding Hood.

Yes, it is true that we now have the apparent anomaly of an Irish-born and reared player being excluded from the Irish squad effectively for three years, whereas one born in New Zealand is now part of the squad by dint of qualifying through three years’ residency.

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By not naming Zebo in last week's squad, this sent out the clearest message that only those who commit to playing within the provincial structure will be considered for Ireland

But them’s the rules, and while no one can begrudge Zebo’s decision, all the more so with his young family in mind, he knew the likely consequences of his decision. It’s also not Aki’s fault that he qualifies to play for Ireland through the residency ruling, or that Zebo has decided to leave Munster.

Ruthlessly swift

Yes, it was certainly a ruthlessly swift decision to exclude Zebo from the 38 players named, not least as his form and ability deserves to see him named in the team, never mind the squad. With Schmidt and co having started the build-up to the 2019 World Cup with the tour to the USA and Japan, they have only picked players who, as things stand, will be based in Ireland come that tournament. Zebo’s decision to leave, even if it transpires to be for two years, has thus more or less led to him being cast adrift for three years.

However, one factor in all of this has to be emphasised, namely that the decision to pick only home-based players is first and foremost to safeguard the provinces. By not naming Zebo in last week’s squad, this sent out the clearest message that only those who commit to playing within the provincial structure will be considered for Ireland.

Were Zebo to be given exemption from this policy, others would assuredly take up lucrative offers from French and English clubs, and the provinces would be weakened. The policy serves as both a carrot and a stick, and it has assuredly contributed to the provinces being more competitive in Europe and the Pro14 than would otherwise have been the case.

There was nothing like the same outcry when CJ Stander or any of the other players who qualified through residency were first named in Irish squads as there has been over Aki

There are, of course, other factors behind Joe Schmidt, the other Irish coaches and the IRFU rigidly adhering to this policy. It means all the players within the provincial system fall under the Player Management Programme, and they will not be overplayed during the course of a season.

It also affords the Irish management access to all players contracted within the provincial system. For example, were Zebo now playing with Racing, he would be obliged to play for the Parisian club during the off weekends in the Six Nations or, say, in the week of the upcoming second match in the Autumn Series against Fiji, were he rested for that game.

Totally accessible

By contrast, Aki – like every other Irish qualified player in the provincial system – will fall under the Player Management Programme, will be totally accessible to the Irish management and will continue to play for Connacht.

There was nothing like the same outcry when CJ Stander or any of the other players who qualified through residency were first named in Irish squads as there has been over Aki. It’s an easy one to assume some sort of high moral ground, but it’s not Aki’s fault that the residency ruling hasn’t yet been extended to a five-year qualification period, however more preferable that might be. One wonders if he had a more Irish-sounding name would there be the same complaints.

True, exceptions have been made in the past for the likes of Geordan Murphy, Tommy Bowe and Johnny Sexton. But Murphy was an exceptional case, having been given his chance from an early age by Bob Dwyer and Leicester. Bowe's four-year odyssey at the Ospreys was perhaps just a different time.

The comparison with Sexton is the most valid, and for sure he is something of a favoured son with Schmidt as well as being more integral to the Irish team. But Sexton’s departure did not take in a World Cup, with Schmidt and co being reasonably certain he would return to Leinster in time for the build-up to the 2015 World Cup. This, alas, is not so with Zebo.

Full release

Sexton’s contract also allowed him full release for all Irish squad sessions, although his departure to Racing soon after the 2013 Lions tour denied him an adequate off-season and pre-season, and this was compounded by the toll of games initially placed upon him with Racing. But that’s a different matter.

Ironically though, Sexton’s stance with Racing, and that of Schmidt and the IRFU with Zebo, is actually something of a double-edged sword. Unlike Sexton, by ostracising Zebo, Ireland will leave him wholly at the services of Racing.

In the heel of the hunt, Zebo may thus turn out to be a more valuable commodity, and better investment, for Racing than Sexton was. The Parisian club will be quite happy that Zebo has no involvement with Ireland during his time with them.

gthornley@irishtimes.com