The picture at Munster is looking a hell of a lot rosier than it was back at the start of the season.
The province and everyone involved at the club are still coming to terms with the tragic loss of head coach Anthony Foley but prospects, in playing terms, are bright.
An away win over Leicester Tigers on Saturday, at Welford Road, would solidify their place atop Champions Cup Pool 1. Should Racing 92 lose to Glasgow Warriors on the same weekend, Munster would then face a French side with zero wins from three games and detached from proceedings.
Munster are on a seven-game winning streak, have avoided too lengthy an injury list and have a host of players in top form. The province may be further boosted by two contract signings in the near future.
The Irish Independent is reporting that former Munster out-half JJ Hanrahan will return to his home province for 2017/18. The Kerry native left Munster to gain more game-time at Northampton Saints in 2015 and has played 25 times but mostly off the bench.
The versatile Hanrahan started at inside centre in Saints’s Champions Cup loss to Leinster, last Friday, and highlighted his undoubted attacking talent.
The former Ireland U20 and World Rugby Junior Player of the Year nominee will return to Munster and provide competition for outhalves Tyler Bleyendaal and top prospect Bill Johnston. Ian Keatley’s time with the province appears to be coming to an end, however.
There is good news, too, in the more immediate terms concerning South African centre Jaco Taute. Speaking after his side’s 38-0 victory over Tigers, Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus addressed the concept of Taute, a short-term signing, staying on into January and beyond.
“[Keeping him on] is something I am thinking about, to be honest with you. I have to put the Irish system as the first and foremost thing. It is something I am thinking about and, if it fit into the whole plan. If it does, it would make sense.”
The IRFU is not wholly against the idea and believe there could be scope for Taute staying on until the end of the season. Given the current, rude health of Ireland’s centres, the union would have no major objection to Taute extending his current deal six months and aiding the development of young centres Rory Scannell and Sam Arnold.
