Reports that Simon Zebo may be set to start from the bench in Bordeaux

Simon Zebo will need to fight to keep his place in Munster’s starting line-up for this Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final against his future club Racing 92, reports the Irish Examiner.

Head Coach Johann van Graan is set to name his starting side tomorrow afternoon for Sunday’s semi-final showdown in Bordeaux.

Zebo has struggled for fitness this season and limped off in the early stages of the province’s famous quarter-final win over Toulon, with Andrew Conway stealing the headlines following a fantastic winning try.

The fullback was taken off after 48 minutes in Friday’s win over the Cheetahs, which would usually indicate that he is being saved for the big game this weekend. However, the Examiner’s Simon Lewis believe that Alex Wootton or Darren Sweetnam may get the nod on one of the wings with the returning to fitness Keith Earls occupying the other, with Andrew Conway getting the nod at 15.

Van Graan has spoken about the importance of Earls to his Munster side ahead of the game and has said that the Limerick man’s return to training is a ‘massive boost.’

“He brings in such a lot of experience and he’s been on fire all year. Whenever Earlsie is part of the team he gives a lot of guys a run of confidence so it would be great to have him if he’s ready to go.”