JACO TAUTE HAS been outstanding for Munster since arriving in September, and has won over the province’s supporters, but he now has real competition for his place in the starting XV.
It’s exciting for Munster to have Francis Saili back in the mix, the return of a twice-capped All Black adding another dangerous element to their attack.
Saili’s excellent finish against Glasgow last weekend, after he had worked hard to get outside Keith Earls, was an illustration that the 25-year-old is hungry to prove himself after his first season had left some of Munster’s fans unconvinced.
Coming back into a set-up that is brimming with confidence, Saili will feel that he can now prosper. He looks to be in prime physical condition – lean and explosive – and his team-mates are glad to see him back from his shoulder trouble.
“He’s a massive player in this team and he brings a lot of energy when he gets on or when he starts,” says CJ Stander. “He’s a guy that’s always positive, always works hard for the team, always comes up with a new play.
“When you’ve got someone on your team like that, just to see something different that you didn’t see maybe, it’s massive. He works hard, he’s an unbelievable player, works hard in defence and attack.
“It’s good to have the competition because everyone wants that jersey and if you drop one week then you’re probably going to have watch the next week from the side.”
Saili has made three replacement appearances and one start since returning from injury on St. Stephen’s Day, with this weekend’s clash with Racing 92 at Thomond Park perhaps providing an opportunity to start again.
As Rassie Erasmus’ men attempt to continue their impressive momentum, the return of Saili has been timely and he will expect to play a major role moving forward.
A win in Limerick on Saturday would secure Munster a home quarter-final, of course, with their progress into the knockout stages having already been confirmed last weekend in Scotstoun.
The memory of the 2014 Heineken Cup quarter-final win over Toulouse at Thomond Park remains strong and earning another occasion like that is a major motivation for Munster.
They will have a sold-out crowd of 26,200 people watching their efforts this weekend, and Stander says Munster want to repay the support.
“It’s a special place. The experience there, you get out and it’s a sea of red and I’m massively proud to be in a set-up like this, where you see supporters that keep giving everything.
“That brings you back and makes you think about your game and the need to keep giving everything for them because they travel over [to Glasgow] and they’ll be in Thomond Park in full flight.
“You don’t want to disappoint them, it’s a special place and I think everyone’s going to want to work hard to get back there [for a quarter-final]. But on the flip side, if we don’t get there, we’ll just keep on doing what we’re doing and keep up the hard work.”
A home quarter-final would be a superb achievement for director of rugby Erasmus in his first season in charge of Munster.
He has insisted since first arriving to start his three-year contract that Munster will take time to fully realise their potential, but this first campaign has been highly encouraging so far.
“He just wants us to go out there and play your game and enjoy it in the first place,” says Stander of the Munster boss.
“He wants you to try your best and try something and make it work and if we fail, well, if we’ve worked hard at it he’s happy with it and if we go at it half-arsed he’s not happy.
“He’s a direct man, he wants the best for the team and he’ll always pick the best player to do that at that stage.
“He’s a guy that brings excitement but also he brings planning, so we come in on a Monday to work hard for the week and come Saturday you just want to be physical and perform for him, Jacques, Felix and Fla because they work so hard.”
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His try against Glasgow was absolutely class ,it was some play from zebo earls and a nice little dive to finish it off ,sweet as pie!!!
He looks in great condition now, going through players as well as around them. Would love if we could keep both him and Taute.
We have Nacewa and Kirchner so I don’t see why not.. seems like the IRFU pick and choose when they want to enforce their rules..
There can’t be any hard and fast rules. Every situation is different
I can’t wait for the day taute starts full back…..interesting scenarios would come from that
Its a good headache to have. I think Saili is better than Taute, but Tautes style suits Munster better. Theyve just signed Hanrahan and Farrell, who can both play centre. They also have a few more centres coming through. So they’ll have good centres next year either way. I think the argument of Leinster having Kirchner and Nacewa as a reason to keep both is silly. Just cause one team is in the wrong doesnt mean every team should be. Leinster should have to get rid of one of them. Ulster should also have to get rid of Coatzee if they want Botha. And soon enough the special status of Connacht should be removed, so we have 4 provinces filled with players competing to be internationals in every position.
In the big games with everybody fit, Saili will start at 12 with Taute outside him
Seems very harsh on Scannell tbh
Yep Saili is a better option than Scannel but there’s no way both should be allowed stay.. both Centers, not going to help indigenous development
@Johnny A: Gavin Cummiskey was suggesting something similar on news of Taute’s extension – one presumes to provoke a reaction from supporters of the other provinces. Would you not think that given Scannel’s nationality, form and kicking options at 12 & 10 that he’ll continue to start at inside centre? To be honest, I’d be surprised to see them on the pitch together at any stage unless Scannel gets called up for the 6N, gets injured in a game or there are myriad injuries to our fullback cover and Taute slots in at 15.
Take the emotion out of it. Saili is a better option than Scannell. If they want to win the European Cup they have be hard nosed in selection.
@Johnny A: I would expect the coaches to be hard-nosed about selection as you put it, Johnny. But you have to consider the strengths (and weaknesses) of all three players. Scannel is developing into a very useful play-making 12, using his 10 skills to good effect; Taute is leading the defence and Saili gives an extra bit of pizzazz in attack, so three players who have different and particular strengths. I could see no reason why Scannel should be the one to forego a place automatically just because the other two are in the squad. A lot will depend on who the opposition is and what the plan for a particular game is. Personally I would rather the competition was between Taute and Saili for the 13 Jersey tuna all three for the two centre positions. This would greatly assist the development of Scannel who has, after all, come on in leaps and bounds this season.
Would u prefer to win to a European cup with Saili or lose one with Scannell?
@Johnny A: fair point Johny!
When it comes to the crunch and everybody is fit – Saili and Taute are starting. Munster are in the business of winning European Cups. They’re not an academy.
When it comes to the crunch Scannell is the man at 12. Look at his defensive stats, look at his passing, his kicking out of hand. He’s started there for over a year now, way too well established and in too good form for those guys to displace him. Doesn’t matter that Saili and Taute are bigger names, he’s delivering there that’s what matters.
Let’s see what Rassie decides when Munster are up against Saracens or Clermont.
Let’s see – arguable that Saili wasn’t fully fit or ready to start big games. He is now though. Btw, who would you start in the second row? Kleyn and Ryan or Holland and Ryan.
Bohane did not play in that game, Goggins did
I think Munster fans have a lot more confidence in our home developed players than you, Scannell is one of the first name in the team, no if or buts
Would u start holland or kleyn in the 2nd row?
Not fit? He’s been fit since Leinster and hasn’t started.
If it was the night before the European cup final and rassie asked you – ‘Kleyn or Holland – who am I picking?’ – what s your answer?
Sannell’s a better 12 than either of the mercenaries. And Munster performed better away to Racing with Holland starting than they did against Glasgow with Kleyn starting
@Johnny A:
I’d imagine most Munster fans would be happy enough with any combination of Kleyn, Ryan and Holland, I’d personally go for Kleyn and Ryan but I don’t see what that has to do with Rory Scannell who has been one of our best players for 12 months now, started every game when fit except for Connacht away on New Years Eve. He is our no.12 when fit, no doubt. Saili and Taute are battling it out for the no.13 slot and rightly so.
@Johnny A: I would imagine its a moot point.
I would be astounded if the IRFU did not stipulate, as part of their agreement to the extension, that there is to be no Taute – Saili partnership in midfield.
I don’t think we will ever see them start together at 12-13 in any fixture between now and end of season.
Do you regret Munster winning a Heineken cup with Mafi and Tipoki? In hindsight would u prefer if they lost with an Irish centre?
You pick your best team available, no issue with that. What most Munster fans are saying is Scannell is by far our best 12 and Saili and Taute are fighting for the 13 shirt. It is irrelevant that Scannell is Irish or not he is our best 12.
@RoB: Spot on
That’s a stretch. Let’s see who Erasmus picks when he has a sniff of a European cup.
@Johnny A: would you not think that if that were the case we would have seen this combination either from the start or indeed off the bench at any point. Leinster, Connacht, Racing 92 and Glasgow are four tasty fixtures – if this was really Rassies master plan surely they would have got some hint of game time.
With Earls and Zebo off to Ireland Camp soon and Darren Sweetnam injured I think we’ll be seeing Taute lining out at fullback alongside O’Mahony and Conway with Scannell and Saili as the centres. Erasmus spoke a lot about his ability to cover fullback.
Apparently in the negotiations to keep Taute it was highlighted that a European Cup was on the cards if Taute and Saili could be unleashed as a partnership. Given Munster’s financial position the union took a pragmatic decision. So let’s see who starts in the semi and the final.
You have been reading facebook again
@Johnny A: Yeah, it certainly seems you’re grasping at straws here. I’d say it’s more a case of you ‘hoping’ he picks them rather than it being something based on any evidence. Anyway, I assume you’ll be the first to hold your hand up and admit it if you’re proven wrong, right?
Sure let’s see