FORMER SPRINGBOK JACO Taute said he is thrilled to have extended his stay with Munster but is no rush to sort out his future.
Taute came to Munster initially on a four-month deal while former All Black Francis Saili was injured but that has been extended from the start of January to the end of this season.
He is on loan from the Stormers and while he is heading back to South Africa for a holiday when the Pro12 takes a break for three weeks after this weekend, Taute said tying down his future will happen in due course.
“I am very happy,” he explained. “I can’t believe it has already been two months. Time is flying past. This block of games is important for us, so if we can finish them off with a win on Saturday that will be great.”
“I’m loving life at the moment,” added Taute, who will be 26 on 21 March. ”I love playing, love being healthy and fit. Hopefully I can turn the clock a bit back because the time is flying past so quickly.”
Capped three times by the Springboks in 2012, Taute became an instant hit on and off the field when he arrived in Munster earlier this season and he has chalked up 17 appearances — scoring eight tries along the way.
It looks like Munster will have to make a choice between trying to hold on to him or Saili at the end of the season, with Taute’s cause being advanced further by the seamless way he has switched from centre to full-back in recent games.
“At the moment, I am just taking it week for week still, seeing what pans out in front of me, trying to help Munster to win,” he added.
When the time comes to talk about the future stuff, I am sure we will sit with Rassie and work out what is the best not only for me but for the club as well.
“At the moment we are just focusing on this game and then we have a bit of a break and then we will regroup again.”
He has set up home in Limerick and has settled in well, even adjusting to the big difference in the weather from his Stellenbosch home in South Africa, and he admitted he prefers playing in the centre than at full-back.
“I think with my personality I like to play in the centre. I like to be in the front line of the game. Full-back sometimes gets a bit lonely. At the moment I am just enjoying being on the pitch and playing. Yeah, horses for courses I guess it is. I love playing for Munster and I love playing in any position. If I prefer I like to battle it out in the midfield.
“You are always a bit nervous when you go to a new place, meet new people, especially a new culture of people, but yes I have been very blessed and I am a grateful man about the opportunities I have received.”
Munster this weekend will bid to get back to winning ways when they travel to Cardiff, having been overturned at home by Scarlets last weekend.
The42 Rugby Show / SoundCloud