Munster not targeting Manning replacement

MUNSTER won’t be searching for a replacement out half from outside the province, following the move of Jeremy Manning to Newcastle.

Manning was not offered terms by Munster after five years with the province; instead coach Tony McGahan will continue to rely on Ronan O’Gara and Paul Warwick as the two main men for the position, and then bank on youngsters Declan Cusack or Scott Deasy realising the potential they have shown.

A Munster source yesterday suggested Manning’s sequence of injuries had damaged his prospects with the province: “He has been unfortunate, has had a very stop-start time and, hopefully, will enjoy an injury free run with Newcastle.”

The source pointed to both Cusack and Deasy as having the potential to make a difference next season: “It will be a big season for both of them with Scott seeking to nail down a position after moving around between 10, 11, 12 and 15. Declan had a very good season for the A team and is, apparently, moving clubs to Garryowen (from Thomond) which should help him along in terms of getting a higher level of experience.

“Beyond that pair, there are some pretty promising players in Munster down the age groups, the under-19 player Gareth Quinn-McDonagh, the UCC player Johnny Holland and JJ Hanrahan from Rockwell, so I think it’s a pretty positive situation in terms of the out half position.”

Yesterday, Falcons head coach Alan Tait, the former Scottish and Lions player, welcomed the decision by Irish qualified New Zealander Manning to join on a 12 month contract. “He is a quality player,” said Tait, “he has been in a fantastic environment for the past five seasons and obviously has learned a lot from greats like Ronan O’Gara.

“Overall, with the experience he gained in Europe when Munster won the Heineken Cup in 2006 and from playing in the Magners League title win in 2009, Jeremy knows what it’s all about at the top level.”