The Springboks’ defence of their Rugby World Cup (RWC) title may get a spring in its step.
Somehow, despite his Bigfootish dimensions, lock RG Snyman managed to disappear from view over the past few years, but a rare sighting was enthusiastically reported earlier this week.
Snyman was back on the training field at Munster having made a painstaking recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. His prolonged absence is only partly explained by that injury. Snyman is well familiar with the menu in rugby’s infirmary. He has suffered back-to-back ACL injuries, the first arriving on debut for Munster in 2020. Snyman has been involved in just four matches for the club, seeing an accumulative 54 minutes’ action.
The ACL injuries weren’t his only setbacks. His mother, who he was very close to, died and he suffered facial burns in a bizarre fire pit incident with teammates.
Having him back on the training field is a giant leap in the right direction, even though Snyman, for now, can only participate in skills-based drills. It is baby steps for him for now.
Munster are hoping to have him available for the second half of the season and the Springboks will maintain a watching brief.
Director of rugby Rassie Erasmus appeared to be ready to shut the door on Snyman in the build-up to the Springboks’ last end of year tour when they included Jason Jenkins as a backup lock. Erasmus then explained that given Snyman’s over familiarity with the physio’s bench they needed to build contingencies ahead of the RWC. Whether the door is completely shut is not clear.
His elongated frame allows him to bring an almost basketball playfulness to the game as he one-handedly keeps the ball from opponent’s reach.
The Springboks could certainly do with the player’s dynamism. Snyman operating at full throttle is a sight to behold. His athleticism, agility, speed, range of passing coupled with bone-rattling physicality sets him apart from the pack. Few locks go about their business with the needle as deep in the red as the 2.06m second rower.
He played flyhalf at primary school and remains a skilful handler. His elongated frame allows him to bring an almost basketball playfulness to the game as he one-handedly keeps the ball from opponents' reach. On top of that, his work in the primary phases, especially in the line-outs, is from the top drawer.
He is a unique lock and has elements of Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert in his make-up. To play himself back into contention however, he will have to leapfrog Marvin Orie, Salmaan Moerat, Jenkins and Ruan Nortje in the pecking order.
Based on what he said after he made his debut, you get the sense Snyman knows what it will take to get back to the highest level. “It is the pure brutality of the locks in SA. A lot of big guys that just want to hurt each other,” Snyman then explained the Boks’ lock product line.
Within the Bok brains trust he is highly valued. “We all know what a freak athlete he is and what he can do for the Boks,” Erasmus last said about Snyman.
The player's rise coincided with the start of the Erasmus era at the Springboks. He debuted in the first of three Tests against England in 2018 and went on to play in 23 of the next 25 Tests, including the 2019 RWC final. That was Snyman’s last Test for the Springboks but fans of the team will hope that will change this year.
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