Zebo ready to warm up for Ulster

Zebo has raced clear to score nine tries for Munster this season, including a hat-trick in the 51-36 triumph over 2011 runners-up Northampton Saints.

He has never locked horns with Munster's rivals from Dublin before but is relishing the PRO12 challenge at Thomond Park.

"It is a special game," said Zebo. "I have been going to them and watching them on tv up to now, but seeing the intensity that they all bring together on the pitch, it is going to awesome.

"I love those big games, that is why I play rugby. I love to play against the Leinsters and Ulsters and all these big teams.

"It is good to play in these pressure situations, that is how you find out how good you are as a player and how you get better."

Speed is definitely something that runs through the Zebo family. His dad, Arthur, a native of Martinique, had his hopes of competing for France in the 800m at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 dashed when he broke his leg on army duty. While his sister Jessika could compete for Ireland in the 400m at the London Olympics.

Zebo admits the highlight of his burgeoning career was the hat-trick at stadium:MK but expects it to be eclipsed in the coming days with the crunch encounters with Leinster and then Ulster on April 8, to earn a place in the last four of the Heineken Cup.

"It is pretty difficult when you are on the fringes of the squad," he said. "Everyone knows the fixture is coming up, we have got Leinster, am I going to make the 23? So, as soon as you hear the team if you are not in it, it is pretty gutting, but you just have to get your head around it, you have to help your team-mates for the weekend.

"So to be involved in that is going to be pretty cool and I'm looking forward to it."

Zebo's abiding memory from growing up watching the huge Irish derby is the 2006 Heineken Cup semi-final victory over the Dubliners.

"The memory that sticks out most from the matches against Leinster growing up is that Heineken Cup semi-final and ROG (Ronan O'Gara) running in a try under the posts at Lansdowne Road," added Zebo.

And the live-wire wing will be hoping for some more O'Gara magic as the Ireland fly-half captains Munster in Limerick tomorrow.