BRUMBIES CENTRE ANDREW Smith is among the options Munster are considering to fill the gap that will be left in their midfield by the departure of Casey Laulala to Racing Métro this summer.
TheScore.ie understands that the 29-year-old has spoken to the province about a transfer, although a deal has not yet been agreed. Smith is out of contract with his Australian Super Rugby franchise at the end of the 2014 season.
As with any vacancy, Munster are considering other potential recruits at outside centre and are expected to make an announcement in the coming month.
Sources close to the Brumbies – where former Munster forwards coach Laurie Fisher is now director of rugby - expect Smith to leave at the conclusion of his current deal, with the Irish province believed to be his most likely destination.
Predominantly a 13, but with Super Rugby experience on the wing, Smith has struggled for starts in the last two seasons due to the level of competition in the Brumbies’ backline and a run of unfortunate injuries in 2013.
Wallaby trio Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano and Pat McCabe have been preferred in midfield during this campaign, while Joe Tomane, Henry Speight and Clyde Rathbone provide alternatives wider out.
At close to 6ft 5ins and weighing 104kg, Smith is a powerful presence, but as his ability to play on the wing highlights, his top-end pace and evasion skills are impressive too. His defensive game is rated as highly effective, particularly in making reads when shooting out of the line.
The busiest season of the Sydney native’s career so far came in 2012, when he started 15 Super Rugby games for the Brumbies [all at outside centre], scoring four tries.
Brian Kerr adds so much to a game when he is co-commentating. Brilliant knowledge, delivered with a nice down-to-earth flavour and a thick (yet somehow endearing) Dublin accent. Seems like he knows every player, manager and team in Europe inside-out, and offers real insight. At last an alternative to the vague, clichéd drivel that we’ve heard from the likes of Andy Gray, Houghton, and Lawrenson for so long.
Good point Daniel, totally agree. His enthusiasm for the game is infectious.
Houghton is suicidal, he still uses an old camera cos he hangs into the negatives. nI’d say Kerr would be good company for a gargle in your local.
Kerr’s quote of the day: “yer man in de orangey butes”. :)
Just beat me to the Kerr love Daniel. He is an incredible Irish resource that has been lost to us because of ill treatment from bumblin Delaney. And he replaced Brian with his number 1 choice, Stan! Nice one John.
I’m sure there will be a job somewhere for Kerr after the Euro’s.
i cant handle to much more of ger canning, the man knows nothing about soccer and and some of the stuff he comes out with you would swear he was the minister for the bleedin obvious !
Can’t believe Iniesta is in the side ahead of Whelan
Kerr brilliant analyst but not a patch on Michael o muireatagh , think about him describing the game , Cassano has the ball ,his mother is from Rome , my cousin is a priest there he baptised Cassano “
sorry just cannot stand brian Kerr, he waffles on and on, that’s just my opinion though
If by waffle you mean insightful, informed, intelligent and entertaining then I guess you are right!