MUNSTER 38-0 LEICESTER
Nine games, eight wins and and six tries into his Munster career and Jaco Taute’s time in Limerick is coming to an end. That is a tragedy but, sure, what can you do?
The South African arrived in Ireland at the end of September, not long after Francis Saili went in for shoulder surgery.
We were told that he was only over on a short-term contract and we accepted it. But with each game Taute plays – heart on his sleeve and tackling anything not Munster that moves – it is getting harder and harder to accept.
Christmas is mere weeks away and the refrain across Thomond Park is one that will be heard across the nation – cane we not just keep him?
Taute had shown signs of promise in his first two games with Munster, after his arrival from Super Rugby’s Stormers franchise, but the Champions Cup win over Glasgow Warriors confirmed a genuine, ball-breaking talent had arrived.
Taute, it was clear, just GOT Munster. He tore into Warriors from the get-go, carried with menace on his mind and roared over for a fine try in the corner. Slap, slap, slap went the meaty hand on his Munster crest. He was living up to the very Munster legend that inspired him to pack up and take the flight up here in the first place.
Ever since then he has kept it up, never eased up. With each game his legend grows within the Munster faithful.
Two moments stood out in Munster’s emphatic Champions Cup win over Leicester Tigers today, and they were not his two tries.
In the first half, he met Tigers’ main attacking bulwark, Manu Tuilagi, head-on and drove him back. The vibrations could be felt as far out as the Gaelic Grounds and King John’s Castle. Tuilagi tried to lay down a marker but, instead, got shut down.
Then, early in the second half, Taute made a massive hit on Tuilagi. The Tigers centre retained the ball and Owen Williams, his midfield partner, was on for the next phase; the next carry. Taute was up and on him. Another man down. Two huge hits in the space of six seconds.
Munster got the ball back, marched down the pitch and mauled to within inches of the Leicester line. Taute spotted a gap in the fraying lines, called the ball on himself and got it done. Six minutes later and he was over again after Darren Sweetnam’s sumptuous offload.
Taute should have had a hat-trick but he was cynically hauled down as he was about to dot down. No bother, a penalty try did nicely.
Maybe if no-one says nothing and if Taute keeps a low-profile, Munster can just hang onto him a while longer.
Get the campaign going – ‘Keep Jaco Taute’. We’ll wear a badge.
Diarmuid Connolly makes his long overdue GAA Hour debut and talks to Colm Parkinson about everything from the black card to his rivalry with Lee Keegan and how he honed the ability to kick accurately with either foot.
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