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How has JJ Hanrahan been faring at Northampton this season?

While there are positives that act as an attraction, there is always a risk for a player when he ...



How has JJ Hanrahan been farin...
Rugby

How has JJ Hanrahan been faring at Northampton this season?

While there are positives that act as an attraction, there is always a risk for a player when he chooses to move abroad.

In some ways they are a little out of sight, out of mind when it comes to talk surrounding the international scene.

Former Munster starlet JJ Hanrahan took that risk when he swapped his home province for the challenge of making it in the Aviva Premiership.

The 23-year-old, who can play at out-half, full-back and centre has been speaking about the move today and highlighting how it was part of his long-term plan of breaking into Ireland's international setup.

But how has he been faring at Northampton Saints since joining the club this season?

Eight matches into their domestic season, they are fifth in the table, having scored 132 points on the field of play, and in Europe they are second in their Champions Cup pool after four games.

In that total of 12 matches, Hanrahan has featured in 10 since making his debut in October against Newcastle Falcons.

His main competition for the out-half role is one-time England cap Stephen Myler, who is the fifth top scorer in this season's Premiership this campaign with 68, in comparison to Hanrahan's 14 domestically.

Of course that is explicable as the Irishman has only started at out-half in games against Exeter, Racing Metro, Bath and Scarlets, with other showings as a versatile replacement.

Best performance on the scoreboard was against Bath when two penalties helped him to an eight point haul in early December. 

And their some positive signs for the player when it comes to game-time of late.

The Kerryman has been named to start tomorrow's domestic derby clash against Leicester Tigers at 10 as Myler goes to the bench for the game, having started the narrow New Year's Day win over Exeter last time out, where he scored one penalty and missed another.

As he builds a bit of momentum in England, the next few steps will be all about honing that further on a regular basis to start realising the potential that saw him nominated for IRB Junior Player of the Year Award 2012.

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