Signed in September following an injury to Francis Saili, Jaco Taute has made a real impact at Munster.
The three-cap Springbok scored two tries in Munster's impressive 38-0 win against Leicester in the Champions Cup on Saturday. Taute joined on a four-month contract but an extension of his stay at Thomond Park is something to which Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus would be open.
The South African said after today's game (via the Irish Examiner) that keeping Taute would be a positive.
We don't want to get a player here that blocks the development of young Irish players but then you look at a guy like Rory Scannell sitting next to Jaco and the way he's developing and a guy like Sam Arnold experiencing that. You know, it would be great to keep him, and surely I am thinking about that.
Erasmus believes that Taute's influence is not just exerted on the pitch. He is also a positive influence off it. He also added Francis Saili could return to action for the Stephen's Day game against Leinster at Thomond Park.
Francis Saili will be ready probably against Leinster (on December 26) but if there is a real case for Jaco staying here, helping and developing young backline players into Irish internationals, because there is no doubt that he is performing on and off the field helping guys around him.
So it is something I'm thinking about to be honest with you but I always have to put the Irish system as the first, most important thing. I want to make sure it fits into the plan and if it does it would make sense.
There are a lot of other key decision makers who must agree with your plan.
Photo by Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile
