Leinster travelled down to Thomond Park to renew acquaintances with their old rivals Munster, and it was no surprise that RG Snyman's move in the opposite direction - which was confirmed last week - was still fresh in the minds of supporters and pundits alike.
It's not only Munster fans who feel Leinster's decision to make a big money signing at a position of strength suggests the playing field is not level between the Leinster and the other three provinces.
In the build-up to the broadcast of Munster v Leinster tonight on RTÉ, Donnacha O'Callaghan and Bernard Jackman shared their thoughts on the move. The former Munster second row was still clearly frustrated Snyman's decision to move to Leinster.
O'Callaghan was one of the few former Munster players to criticise Snyman for making the move, and said he would not be remembered as fondly remembered as the likes of compatriots Shaun Payne and Trevor Halstead in the hearts of Munster fans.
I know there's a mindset that it's just business, but it's not around Munster. It's highly frustrating. I know supporters, ex-players, an awful lot of us are really frustrated by it. Of course you understand that players have to do what's right for their family but there comes a point in everyone's decision where you put your career and your money pathway over your reputation, and for me RG Snyman won't be see it in the same light of Shaun Payne or Trevor Halstead when it comes to Munster greats, in how he's remembered for a move like that.
But aside from that I can't believe it was signed off. To be fair, I would now question the structure of the funding model [by the IRFU]. Last week, I watched European Cup rugby. The outstanding [Irish] second row bar maybe Iain Henderson or Tadhg Beirne was young Jack Dunne of Exeter. But he's playing in England and here we are allowing RG Snyman going up the road to take away game minutes from Irish players. And to be fair, I feel it's a contradiction in what we're trying to do. We say that we're trying to develop a pathway for Irish players, and for me, I think that blocks it, and for me, it's quite frustrating.
Jack Dunne, of course, played for three years with Leinster before moving to Exeter in order to seek more playing opportunity. He was huge for Exeter at Sandy Park against Munster.
Donncha O'Callaghan on Snyman and Munster
In fairness to O'Callaghan, he seemed to speak for a lot of Munster fans in his expressing the angst over the move.
The #RTERugby panel of @docallaghan4 @bernardjackman and @jamieheaslip discuss RG Snyman's move from Munster to Leinster pic.twitter.com/lEDPkTkZot
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 26, 2023
Bernard Jackman said he understands why Munster fans were 'hurt' and called for the IRFU to review their policy whereby a province is only allowed to have one NIQ player per position. He said South Africa's decision to cap Jean Kleyn set off a 'freak set of circumstances' that created the conditions for Snyman to join Leinster.
It was interesting to see the likes of Gordon D'Arcy pushing back against O'Callaghan's analysis, essentially saying if Snyman is blocking the pathway for Irish-born Leinster players, he was doing the same for Irish-born Munster players.
Really.. blocking pathway when he comes to Leinster, fills the same role in Leinster he did in Munster so why is that blocking player pathway?
Highly doubt Leinster outbid anyone, I’d say the injury profile & heavily restricted playing profile contract he signed made sense.. https://t.co/xrE51hFje9— Gordon D'Arcy (@Gordonwdarcy) December 26, 2023
Leinster overcome Munster in the rain
It was another disappointing result for Munster who fell 9-3 to Leinster in atrocious conditions in Limerick. It was a hard fought game but ultimately Leinster's superior bench strength made the difference in securing the victory. Big Joe McCarthy - one of the second rows many feel will be losing minutes to RG Snyman - was voted Man of the Match.
