Munster centre Taute puts injury nightmare behind him

JACO TAUTE has spent most of the past year studying financial management rather than playing rugby but now all he wants to do is start counting the minutes of gametime for Munster.

The South African centre, signed the previous season after some superb performances while on a four-month contract, suffered a serious knee injury against Cardiff last September and he can’t wait to make his return away to Glasgow on Friday evening.

The 27-year-old chalked up 26 appearances in that maiden season with Munster after being drafted in as cover by Rassie Erasmus and he’s chomping at the bit to get back out.

“It has been a long time and I’m not going to lie, it’s been difficult to come back from a serious injury. Luckily, I’ve been there before and I know what to expect and how to deal with the process. It’s been a long year but I’m fully fit,” said the three-times capped Springbok.

He had spent a year out before with a knee injury and knew how much hard work needed to be put into rehab and getting back to fitness.

But he also knew he needed something to fill the time so he completed his degree in financial management from the University of South Africa.

“It’s great to be back and playing rugby and not just rehabilitating in the gym because that gets lonely.

“They keep you very busy when you are rehabilitating. You are here (in the High Performance Centre at UL) five days a week and they make sure you’re on track but in my spare time I did manage to study and it went well.”

He has had his centre partner Chris Farrell with him for company over the past six months on the recovery circuit and that has been a help as they both try to deal with the frustration of being injured.

“Unfortunately he got injured when he was playing really well for Ireland so it was tough for him as well, but it’s better in a situation like that that you can spend time together, vent with each other, work hard in the gym together and just talk sometimes – that helps.

“Hopefully for him I was a big help while I was still injured and he’s also on track with his rehab. He also did his ACL, but he’s a big professional, a big strong boy, so he’ll also get through it,” added Taute.