Simon Zebo: Mike Prendergast could get Munster back to European rugby's top table
Simon Zebo with Mike Prendergast, then of Racing 92, before a 2019 Champions Cup game against Munster. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Simon Zebo said the answers to Munster's search for a new head coach are under the noses of the Thomond Park decision makers.
Zebo believes attack coach Mike Prendergast is the man to replace Graham Rowntree. The former Ireland back worked with Prendergast at both Munster and Racing 92.
Prendergast recently signed a new two-year deal with Munster which will keep him at the province until at least 2027.
"The answers are probably there in the room for Munster," Zebo told Premier Sports.
"I think Mike Prendergast would be a great candidate. I think he's a fantastic coach. I suppose his attention to detail is fantastic.
"The way he puts the arm around the young players and pushes them through to play at better heights. The core of that Munster team is quite young. The half-back pairing obviously.
"John Hodnett. You have Alex Kendellen. You have (Gavin) Coombes. And the back three are all young.
"I think for him to step up to the role, he could really kick Munster on and get them back to the top table of European rugby."
"I think Mike Prendergast would be a great candidate. I think he's a fantastic coach." 🗣️@SimonZebo on who he'd like to see replace Graham Rowntree as the permanent head coach of Munster 🔴#InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/ZINsMAey7r
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) December 7, 2024
It was announced last week that former Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd, also a former director of rugby with Northampton, had joined Munster as a performance consultant.
"He's obviously been a successful coach at his time at Northampton," Zebo said regarding Boyd.
"He'll have a lot of experience that he could pass on to the coaching staff and the playing group."
