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.”