Munster to make big call on next season’s squad and it won’t please everyone

It appears that a decision has been made.

Munster have only only Non-Irish Qualified slot left in the squad for next season and one tough choice. Rassie Erasmus was granted permission to bring in Jaco Taute as a short-term injury replacement for Francis Saili. He was then granted permission to extend that stay, after Saili returned, as Munster were having a good season and pushing for silverware on both fronts. Taute's stay has already been extended once. Now it seems as if he will be offered a two year deal to stay on at Thomond Park. The Irish Independent is reporting that Munster are prepared to offer Taute a new deal and, in doing so, let Saili go. The two-times capped All Black has scored seven tries in 37 appearances with Munster but injuries have halted any real run of form. Harlequins are one of several English sides interested in picking Saili up although there will be inevitable interest from France and Super Rugby. Interestingly, rugby supporters voted narrowly in favour of Munster keeping Saili over Taute in a recent poll on SportsJOE. The Kiwi is seen as the more exciting of the two centres when it comes to attack but Taute has an eye for the tryline and did superbly over the winter months as Munster reached the Champions Cup knock-out stages. The paper notes that while Saili may be preparing to leave, Taute has yet to sign a new deal. He is contracted with Stormers until the end of this year but negotiating an early exit should not be an issue.