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New Munster signing RG Snyman says he will answer his country’s call should the Rugby Championship go ahead later this year. The Championship is set to be played in New Zealand on a condensed six-week scheduled across November and December.
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That would clash with some big games for Snyman’s new club, Munster, but the World Cup winner says he is already in no doubt that he will be available for South Africa’s Rugby Championship campaign.
The Rugby Championship is set to be begin on November 7 and run until December 12. Munster should have Pro14 fixtures throughout November, but the real blow would be the absence of Snyman for their opening game of the 2020/21 Champions Cup season, which is expected to be played on the weekend of December 12/13.
Munster would also have to plan without fellow Springbok Damien de Allende, who signed for the province alongside Snyman last November. The pair joined their new teammates in Ireland over the last few weeks.
In a cruel twist for Munster supporters, it was former Munster boss Rassie Erasmus who insisted that players based overseas would be eligible for selection for the Springboks, a move that proved vital to South Africa’s successful World Cup campaign in Japan last year.
Munster haven’t managed to break the Champions Cup semi-final barrier since they last won the competition in 2008, and the absence of de Allende and Snyman for the opening stages of the 2020/21 edition robs them of their two marquee signings.
Yet Snyman explained that Munster are already aware of his intention to play for South Africa, should the Rugby Championship go ahead.
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“Me, personally I will (play for South Africa),” Snyman told the Irish Independent.
“There is still a lot going on to see if the games in the Rugby Championship will go ahead. (But) yes. I am lucky Munster are allowing me to play for the Springboks.”
The arrival of Snyman and de Allende keeps the strong South African flavour alive at Munster. Rassie Erasmus left his role as Munster director of rugby in 2017 to join the Springboks, guiding them to the Webb Ellis Cup last year.
Erasmus was succeeded in Munster by former Springboks forwards coach Johann van Graan, and Snyman said the opportunity to work with van Graan was the driving force behind his move from Japan’s Honda Heat to Thomond Park.
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“The biggest reason I came here was coach Johann. I’ve worked with him in the past and I know the quality of coach he is,” he said.
As the northern hemisphere heads into a non-stop 12 months of rugby, @alexshawsport looks at the potential Lions tourists at each Premiership club.https://t.co/qb3AMElwPp
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 4, 2020
“I haven’t worked under him that much before, even though I know him a long time. But I do know that he’s a quality coach. Speaking to anyone that has ever worked with him, it’s only positive [things that they say].
“I really enjoyed my time in Japan. From a career perspective, I thought it was a better move to come over to Munster and work under coach Johann to keep moving forward and keep improving.
“I still think I need to work on the smaller details from a technical side and working under him is great for that because he is very technical and his off-field work is very detailed.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
50 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
50 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
50 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
50 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
50 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
50 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
50 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
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