Sport

Howlett for Munster?

World Cup Digest: Doug Howlett, the All Blacks' winger, has emerged as a serious target for Munster, reports Gerry Thornley.

Thu Aug 30 2007 - 01:00

World Cup Digest:Doug Howlett, the All Blacks' winger, has emerged as a serious target for Munster, reports Gerry Thornley.

The 28-year-old, soon bound for the World Cup as part of New Zealand's 30-man squad, has scored 41 tries in his 59 tests, placing him just third on the All Blacks' all-time list of try scorers behind another Munster signing, Christian Cullen (64) and Jeff Wilson (62) and would constitute a major and timely coup for the 2006 Heineken European Cup champions.

With Cullen, John Kelly, Shaun Payne and Anthony Horgan at or nearing the end of their careers and Trevor Halstead departed, Munster coach Declan Kidney has a significant rebuilding job in his outside three and Howlett would be an ideal, experienced acquisition. In latter years Howlett has also played fullback for Auckland Blues.

He also has over 100 appearances in the Super 14, in which he is also the competition's third leading try scorer of all time. He is believed to be in negotiations with a number of European clubs.

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Captaincy for O'Driscoll

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Callam and Corry all-clear

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