Flutey remains a target
ENGLAND centre Riki Flutey remains a potential target for Munster as the province steps up its efforts to find a replacement for Jean de Villiers who returns home to South Africa at the end of the season.
Munster team manager Shaun Payne reavealed that they were continuing to talk to all the best centres who were available to make a potential switch to the Magners League holders for next season. While Payne declined to comment on Munster's reported interest in Flutey specifically, he agreed that the British and Irish Lions star was 'one of the best centres out there at the minute.'
Shaun Payne said this week: "We have announced Jean de Villiers is leaving. We are looking for the best quality replacement we can get. Obviously, there are not a whole lot of guys in a World Cup year who would come up for re-signing.
"We are talking to all the best centres that we can. He (Riki Flutey) would be one of the best centres out there at the minute. I am not going to speculate about Riki Flutey or anyone else until I can have a definite answer for anyone. I am sure you can all put two and two together."
British and Irish Lions centre Riki Flutey is currently playing with French Top 14 side Brive.
The New Zealand-born centre signed a two-year deal with Brive last year, but has experienced a disappointing time there due to a shoulder injury, a change on the coaching staff and some disappointing results. Flutey, currently playing for England in the RBS Six Nations Championship, has made just four appearances for his French club this season.
Payne revealed that Munster would shortly be releasing a statement in relation to a number of players who are out of contract at the end of the season.
"We did release a statement about Doug (Howlett) because he had been fielding a lot of questions about his future and we decided to clear that situation up by issuing a press release saying he was remaining on with us," Shaun Payne said.
"The situation remains the same with regards everyone else. We are very close to having the situation sorted. When we have all that done we will be releasing a statement."
Dragons
Meanwhile, Payne believes the availability of experienced Irish out-half Ronan O'Gara for Saturday's crucial Magners League clash with the Dragons is a 'massive positive' for the competition holders.
O'Gara and prop Tony Buckley, who were introduced as second half replacements in Ireland's victory over England at Twickenham, are included in Munster's 25-strong squad for Saturday night's Magners League clash with the Dragons at Rodney Parade (6.30pm).
Munster currently occupy the fourth and final play-off spot in the table, but Edinburgh lie just one point behind in fifth.
Shaun Payne said: "It is a massive bonus to us to have Rog (Ronan O'Gara) back. He will be disappointed obviously not to have started the game against England. You can be guaranteed one thing, he will be rearing to go.
"It is a massive positive for us, especially when you consider the younger guys in the squad.
"There is no better role model or experienced guy to have in the squad that Rog.
"This weekend's game is very important. It is one of the few away games we have left.
"I think we have a good chance of making the top four, especially if we pick up this game.
"If we can pick up a result this weekend, we'll be well placed to launch an assault on the semis.
"Our away form hasn't been good at all so far which makes it more important that we try and do something in this weekend's game.
"We've had a lot of success against the Dragons, but this is a totally different Dragons side to what we have seen in the last few seasons. They seem to have a good core of young players coming through and they have been excellent at home this season."
As for the staging of Munster's big Magners League game with Leinster at Thomond Park on Good Friday, April 2 team manager Payne agreed that from a supporters' point of view it wasn't the ideal day.
The Good Friday does give Munster an eight-day break before their key Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with Northampton Saints at Thomond Park on April 10.
"There is a lot of feeling around about the Leinster game taking place on Good Friday.
"If we look at it purely from a rugby point of view, there is not much in it," Payne said.
"But obviously there are a lot of other issues to look at.
"We, obviously, would like to have had it on a Saturday, from a supporter's point of view to keep everyone happy. We are dictated to by Celtic Rugby, who are, in turn, probably, dictated to by TV.
"I am not sure what's Leinster' view on it is, but they play a Heineken Cup quarter-final on the following Friday and if we were in a similar position we would not want a six day turnaround to the biggest ERC Cup game of the season. I am pretty sure they would want a seven-day turnaround."
Munster squad: Marcus Horan, Julien Brugnaut, Tony Buckley, Stephen Archer, Damien Varley, Denis Fogarty, Mike Sherry, Mick O'Driscoll, Ian Nagle, Billy Holland, Alan Quinlan, Tommy O'Donnell, Nick Williams, James Coughlan, Duncan Williams, Peter Stringer, Paul Warwick, Ronan O'Gara, Scott Deasy, Jean de Villiers, Lifeimi Mafi, Ian Dowling, Doug Howlett, Ciaran O'Boyle, Denis Hurley.
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