Munster’s Jaco Taute out for up to six months

Munster have been rocked by the loss of Jaco Taute for virtually the rest of the season after the South African Test centre underwent knee surgery yesterday.

Taute, 26, was injured in the first half of Munster’s Guinness PRO14 victory over Cardiff Blues last Saturday and, following a consultation with a specialist on Monday, the former Stormers star went under the knife to repair ligament damage yesterday, with his rehabilitation programme expected to take up to six months.

The absence of such an effective midfielder to the Munster cause is a serious blow to director of rugby Rassie Erasmus’s plan, despite him expecting bad news the minute he saw Taute leave the Thomond Park pitch on the back of a stretcher cart.