RG Snyman has been selected to start at Thomond Park this Saturday as Munster host Connacht in the URC.
Incredibly, it will be the Springbok lock's first start before a home crowd in his injury-marred spell with Munster.
Graham Rowntree has also given Jack Crowley what will be his 50th cap for the Red Army at out-half in a very strong team hoping to keep up the momentum gained from their recent tour to South Africa.
Munster earned two bonus point wins in the Southern Hemisphere and are now sitting fourth in the URC and with players coming back from injuries and illness Munster can be quietly confident in their chances of retaining the URC title.
RG Snyman Speaks About Latest Absence
It's fair to say that RG Snyman has had a rough time since moving over to Ireland in 2020. He came over during COVID restrictions and from there he's been hit with setback after setback.
Snyman had two ACL injuries within the first year of joining Munster and he's missed a lot of time on the pitch but when he's played he's shown why Munster wanted him in the first place.
He was integral to Munster's run to the URC title last year, coming off the bench in the first half of the final against the Stormers and was also part of the World Cup winning Springbok side last year. However since then he hasn't been available due to injury and illness for Munster, only appearing in 5 matches this season.
Speaking this week ahead of the Connacht match Snyman talked about his latest absence for Munster's Champions Cup Round of 16 loss to Northampton Saints which was much more serious than anyone thought originally.
I actually didn’t have what the rest of the guys had, I had pneumonia.
So, I was really not well over those two weeks and it’s not the easiest thing then to go play at altitude in Pretoria but it all turned out OK.
It was definitely a shock, the first big training session we had there, I must say.
But, at least knowing what to expect and knowing how you will feel, getting that iron taste in the back of your throat while you’re running, it’s not a new experience, you know, growing up there.
It's unfortunate for Munster that they have to let Snyman go, there will a sense of unfinished business between the lock and Munster when he leaves but there's still a lot to play for between now and the end of the season and if Snyman can stay fit, he can help Munster end the season on a high.
READ ALSO: Former England International Calls Out Eben Etzebeth's "Bullsh*t" Ireland Claim
