CRAZY. BRUTAL. WARFARE.
If Jaco Taute’s pre-match lexicon is anything to go by, it’s safe to say that the dynamic South African centre is fired up for his first taste of European knockout rugby.
Taute has been involved at the business end of the Currie Cup and Super Rugby before, but this week has been a new experience for the 26-year-old. Although he’s enjoying the build-up to Munster’s European Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulouse this weekend, he believes the preparatory work is done. Taute is ready to get stuck in.
Munster’s Jaco Taute speaking to the media this week at their UL training base. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO
“The place is buzzing and the team is ready,” he says. “All the players are ready and you can feel the excitement around. We will probably have to take it back a notch so we don’t overdo it, but yes, there’s definitely excitement and the guys are ready to go. You can feel that energy, it’s just a special week.”
Saturday evening’s clash with Toulouse at Thomond Park marks Munster’s first venture into the knockout stages since the Heineken Cup became the Champions Cup. When the southern province most recently reached the last eight, Taute was watching as they recorded a 47-23 win against the French side in Limerick.
“I remember the quarter-final in 2014,” he recalls. “Massive occasion, great game and it was a good result for Munster. It’s two massive clubs and heavyweights of Europe so it’s going to be a great occasion and a special, special moment.
“I’m very excited. It’s going to be cool. I’ve had a few similar occasions and it’s going to be all-out warfare. I think it’s a special game between Munster and Toulouse because there have been finals, there have been knockouts, so they will be coming here to get a scalp.
“It’s going to be all-out warfare, it’s going to be crazy and I can’t wait for it. Like I said, it’s one of those occasions you want to be part of. I think it’s very good for the community because it has been three years since there’s been a quarter-final at Thomond so I think the fans deserve this one. I hope they enjoy it as much as we will enjoy it.”
Toulouse are currently in ninth place in the Top 14. In spite of defeats to Wasps and Connacht, the four-time European champions managed to make it through to the Champions Cup quarter-finals after overcoming Pat Lam’s side at Stade Ernest Wallon in their final Pool 2 game. Munster have done their homework and Taute expects a physical encounter.
Taute scored two tries in Munster’s home win against Leicester Tigers in December. Source: PA Wire/PA Images
“It’s hard for all the French teams [to know what gameplan they are going to use] but we’ve done some good analysing on them and we’ve done our research,” the Springbok said. “I think they’ll play a good brand of rugby, take their chances when it’s on and take their opportunities.
“If we slacken off in certain areas they will attack that. It is going to be a physical match in Thomond Park for the first 20 minutes and it will be brutal. We will have to stick to our guns but they will definitely come with a balanced game, but more attacking. They will run it from everywhere so we will have to be prepared.”
In spite of the fact that he’s been capped by South Africa, Taute’s arrival at Munster in September wasn’t greeted with any great fanfare down south. He was initially brought in as injury cover for Francis Saili and Munster supporters have seen enough imports struggle in the red jersey by now to convince them to reserve their judgement.
But Taute didn’t take long to win them over. He scored the first of eight tries in 19 appearances so far in the game against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium last October. Another try followed a fortnight later in a bulldozing display in the memorable home victory over Glasgow Warriors in the Champions Cup.
Taute — who represented the Stormers and Western Province in Super Rugby and the Currie Cup respectively last year — was due to return to South Africa when his short-term contract ended on New Year’s Eve, but Munster managed to work out a deal to keep him until the end of the season.