FOR THE SECOND time in a month Munster have sent us into a spin by announcing a Kiwi who (lets just say) isn’t a household name.
That’s right, we’re not going to sit here and pretend that we have closely examined the intricacies Racing Metro’s play – we’ve got four provinces over here to keep us busy – so Mannix was not a name to jump out at us.
As you’ve already been reading (and see from the picture of his heyday) Mannix is an All Black, he played fly-half and helped Metro gain promotion into the Top 14 and on into the Heineken Cup before being ousted late last year.
What else?
Debuted in good company
Alongside such stellar names as Sean Fitzpatrick and Ian Jones, Mannix was unfortunate enough to make his one and only test appearance in the 1994 defeat to France, so he does not have an international score to his name. However, his fellow debutant that day does: Jonah T Lomu.
His French is fantastic
Well, I’m convinced by it anyway. Then again, after five years in Paris, it would probably want to be.
Picking up new languages is a very useful skill. Limerick and Cork can be tricky when you don’t speak the lingo.
YouTube credit: sport24
Trailblazer
With professionalism a new-found phenomenon, Mannix left Wellington behind at the age of 25 and headed for England. There, he says, he was one of a pioneering group of players crossing into another hemisphere to ply their trade. The others were Michael Lynagh, Phillippe Sella and Joel Stransky.
Affable
His sacking from Metro led to a civil war within the club as players locked horns with Pierre Berbizier for scape-goating his long-term number two. It’s not uncommon for assistant coaches to be friendly with players, but the fans greatly appreciated him too. Somebody took the time to pore over this video complete with a soppy Adele soundtrack.
‘Merci Simon’.
There’ll be none of that French lovey, dovey stuff round Thomond.
YouTube credit: MissMeu88
