Munster close in on 'electric' Abrahams

MUNSTER-BOUND: Thaakir Abrahams of Lyon is tackled by Connacht's Shayne Bolton during the Investec Champions Cup Pool Stages. Pic: Romain Biard, Sportsfile

Mike Prendergast has described Munster target Thaakir Abrahams as an “electric” wing with “X-factor ability” after the province were strongly linked with a move for the South African currently playing with French Top 14 side Lyon.

Munster appear set to unveil the 24-year-old former Sharks star, who can also play full-back, in the coming days with attack coach Prendergast all but confirming the news during a Tuesday media call ahead of the province’s URC derby clash on Saturday with Ulster at Thomond Park.

The province have seen their back-three options reduced this season with Keith Earls retiring at the end of the World Cup and Andrew Conway forced to quit through injury while fellow stalwart Simon Zebo last week announced his intention to hang up the boots at the end of the current campaign.

Abrahams was earning comparisons with compatriots and Springbok Test stars Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe as he rose through the ranks at the Sharks, earning him a move to France last summer.

French media outlet Le Progrès reported on Tuesday, however, that the South African had been granted a release from the final year of his contract with Lyon in order to join Munster.

Prendergast said nothing to deny the move and offered his thoughts on Abrahams.

“He’s electric, really, really good footwork. Very quick, elusive, got that X factor ability about him,” the Munster assistant said. “We’d have known him from URC as well, playing with the Sharks then went on to Lyon in the Top 14 last year. He’s a wonderful player.

“Just in terms of ourselves, look, we are in the market for a back-three player. As of at the moment, can’t confirm anything but the news I’m sure will be out sooner than later.”

In the meantime, the defending URC champions and current league leaders have midfield injury concerns over their starting centre combination as they prepare for the final round of the regular season this Saturday, when a win over their interprovincial rivals will guarantee top spot and a home draw all the way to the Grand Final on June 22.

Alex Nankivell had already ruled out with an ankle injury he sustained in the away win at Edinburgh on May 17, while Munster reported his regular starting midfield partner Antoine Frisch had undergone a scan on a leg injury last week with the Toulon-bound centre’s availability to face Ulster set to be determined later this week.

“As of now, we’re unsure,” Prendergast said of Frisch’s current status. “He did a bit of running over the last day or two but we’re going to give him an extra day or so see how he gets on. Going into Thursday we’ll see how he is.”

The attack coach also admitted Nankivell, a signing last summer from New Zealand’s Chiefs, was touch and go for the following week’s home quarter-final.

“It’s pretty much up in the air, very much day by day, week by week. He is improving, Alex. It’s probably too early to call it yet, being honest with you and having two of the boys out isn’t ideal but in saying that, we have good depth there.

“We saw it with Rory Scannell, coming on against Edinburgh, he had a fine game I thought. And Sean O’Brien has played a lot of rugby this year and I know he’s been on the wing but any time he’s played in the midfield for us, which is his natural position, he’s come out on top there.

“So if the boys get through they get through it. If they don’t we have the next man up. We’ve been kind of used to that this year and the two lads that are due to come in if it happens that way are both in good form at the moment thankfully.”

Prendergast also praised the dual-nationality Frisch’s contribution to the Munster cause over the past two seasons, when he joined from Bristol Bears in search of a Test opportunity with Ireland.

Despite selection for an Emerging Ireland tour in the autumn of 2023, Frisch has been lured back to France, the land of his birth, for next season after a call up from French national boss Fabien Galthie during the 2024 Six Nations with Toulon confirming his capture for next season after Munster allowed him to leave with a year still to run on his current deal.

“It was probably in the pipeline for the last few weeks,” Prendergast said, “and to have a player like him going is, look, we’ve a way to go this season, a huge part of it, the business end of it and he’ll be a massive part of that; but I think over the last two seasons he’s shown his quality.

“I like his story as well, being involved in French rugby, knowing how he had to get there, it’s a great story and he’s been marvellous for us. There’s an important few weeks, hopefully, and we’re hoping for him to be a big part of it but to lose a player like him, it would hurt any team and any squad.

“Fortunately we’ve announced a couple of signing in for next year, including Tom Farrell, and he’s a good profile of a player as well.”