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'I know he's a monster... the things he'd been doing in pre-season were athletically freakish'

By Online Editors
South Africa's RG Snyman attempts to charge down England's Ben Youngs' box kick during the Quilter International match between England and South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Western/MB Media/Getty Images)

Seven minutes of a debut and a massive season-ending injury were not quite in the script for World Cup winner and Springbok RG Snyman at his Irish club Munster.

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But while the big lock starts his long road to rehabilitation from the ACL injury sustained in the 27-25 loss against Leinster last week, he may well have a new role to play at his club.

Hooker Niall Scannell hinted that Snyman would ‘mentor’ younger players while waiting to get back onto the park, sharing his World Cup experience with the youngsters in the process.

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Scannell said he was impressed with how positive Snyman was after the injury and sees him playing a different role in the side.

“RG seems like an unbelievably positive guy and he just wants to contribute to the setup,” Scannell said.

“It’s probably one of those things, where personally he is trying to get over a huge disappointment, but I think that is all of our natural progression. I’m sure as he gets that op and that initial rehab in, he will start getting back involved.

“He will get a hold of a lot more things because he was probably just catching up in terms of lineout and stuff anyway. He will be out on the training park watching us and I know it’s in his nature anyway, he is going to help those (young) guys out.

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“I’m assuming we are going to see a lot of that kind of input from RG going forward. He seems like he has got a great attitude.”

Scannell said he was “shocked” at how positive Snyman was, and said he would “attack” the rehab with everything within him.

“I know he’s a monster and, as we’ve seen over the pre-season, a physical freak – but he’s a young man as well, you have to recognise that,” said hooker Scannell.

“He’s come from halfway across the world and was probably very excited about putting his best foot forward for Munster, and now this has happened.

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“I’m actually shocked at his outlook. He seems to be such a positive guy. We’ve only known him a few months but that’s great to see.

“He’s going to attack this. He was in the building for the first time today and we could console him, but he seems so positive.

“I just hope his rehab goes according to plan but it’s a disaster for him.

“Some of the things he’d been doing in pre-season were athletically freakish and I was just excited to see him out there in the Aviva.”

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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