'He’s got real X-factor' - new Munster recruit Thaakir Abrahams set to face Gloucester 

Graham Rowntree's men have a pre-season run-out on Leeside on Friday.

Calvin Nash and Thaakir Abrahams arrive for training at UL. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady

Munster look set to unleash new back-three star Thaakir Abrahams when they face Gloucester in pre-season at Cork’s Virgin Media Park this Friday night.

The second of two pre-season fixtures ahead of the new URC campaign starting on September 21st with a home interprovincial derby against Connacht at Thomond Park, the exciting South African is set for a first appearance for Graham Rowntree’s team since joining from French Top 14 side Lyon this summer.

Abrahams, 25, missed last Saturday’s trip to Bath as his arrival in Limerick had been delayed while he waited for visa clearance and did not begin pre-season training until late August but the former South Africa Under-20 international and Sharks player has already impressed Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast who on Tuesday told the Irish Examiner: “Potentially we’re going to take a look at him.

“He’s here, let’s get him in. We only have two pre-season games so the league will come fast. So yes, there’s a high possibility we’ll look at him this week.

“Just looking at him, his footwork, he’s got X-factor, that’s the type of player he is. The way we play the game it’s something that we hope his profile will suit us. He’s come in and he’s enjoyed how we play the game.

“He obviously would have watched us to see what he was coming into and he came in prepared as well, to be fair to the fella, so he has knowledge of what needs to be done.

“There’s an excitement around him. He’s got real X-factor.” 

Munster gave pre-season runs in Bath last weekend to fellow arrivals Diarmuid Kilgallen, also a wing, centres Tom Farrell and Garryowen clubman Bryan Fitzgerald, signed on a short-term contract, as well as former Ireland fly-half Billy Burns.

“Diarmuid Kilgallen has had a very good few seasons with Connacht,” Prendergast added. “Very powerful, an explosive runner, I think we saw that in Bath last week. Once there’s that bit of space he just has the acceleration and so he’s going to be a different type of profile as well. That’s the good thing about the boys, they’re different profiles on top of maybe Calvin (Nash) and Shane (Daly), Mikey Haley etc, and even in the midfield.

“We have Tom Farrell there as well, a really good, experienced campaigner. I thought he showed up very well at the weekend. He has an ability to get his nose through contact situations, get his hands free and he’s very, very direct but can be a ball player as well, which is a nice profile.

“What it does as well, I’d have a big philosophy in terms of our backs being able to play in different positions, so there’s a couple of players we’ll look at… look at Shane Daly, who’s versatility as a back three player is very exciting and we might even look at him in a different position as well. And it’s that competitiveness.

“And we’ve Billy Burns as well. An experienced guy, has won caps with Ireland, six years with Ulster, and has fitted in like a glove. A really, really good guy and he’s got a very good skill set which again is something that will suit the way we play.

“He’s got a very good short attacking kicking game. Which we saw against Leinster last year, when he has the ability to pick off… more and more defences are being implemented around the world now – South African teams, Leinster have it – bringing high linespeed, higher up in the edges, so the ability to pick them off through your kicking game, Billy has got that in abundance and he’s only going to add to the depth we have there.” Prendergast also welcomed back forwards Jean Kleyn and Thomas Ahern, and scrum-half Paddy Patterson, to training following injuries and said it was hoped the trio would be ready to start the new season in 18 days.