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Springbok branded 'worst transfer in Irish rugby history'
By Ian Cameron
Springbok second row RG Snyman has been branded the ‘worst transfer in Irish rugby history’ after he once again missed out on a crucial Munster match.
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Despite initially been named to start, Snyman failed to recover from an unspecified bug which had been doing the rounds at Munster and ultimately played no part in their 24-14 defeat to Northampton Saints in the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 at Franklin’s Gardens yesterday.
Munster have found themselves once again ejected from the competition which has become sown into the very fabric of the province since they lifted it back in 2006 and 2008 after years of knocking at the door.
Snyman’s absence once again will have been a bitter pill for fans to swallow. Undoubtedly one of the most formidable players in the world when fit, Snyman’s tenure at Munster has been marred by repeated injuries that have massively curtailed his time on the field – almost to comedic levels.
Over the course of four seasons, Snyman has managed only seven appearances for the club, a stark contrast to the expectations fans had upon the arrival of the World Cup winner. If reports of his salary at to be believed, his pay rate works out at a staggering €285,714 per game over four seasons. If you break it down further in minutes played, he’s been paid €4,629 per second on the pitch.
His contributions in the Champions Cup have been minimal, with just one appearance, and he is still yet to start a game at Thomond Park or alongside Tadhg Beirne in the engine room.
Despite these setbacks at the club level, Snyman has made eleven appearances for the South African national team in the same timeframe, highlighting an increasingly awkward disparity between his Test and club-level contributions. As fate would have it, his fitness came good in time for the Boks’ 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign.
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Rugby journalist Michael Cantillon asked the question on X recently: ” “[Snyman] Has to be the worst transfer in Irish rugby history?”
Snyman in four seasons at Munster;
Champions Cup games for Munster: 1
Starts at Thomond Park: 0
Starts alongside Beirne at lock: 0
Total starts: 7
SA appearances over same time: 11Has to be the worst transfer in Irish rugby history? https://t.co/vyKNN7JAMQ
— Michael Cantillon (@mike_cantillon) April 6, 2024
The South African lock is set to transition to Leinster next season and Leo Cullen will be hoping that his string of miserable luck will come to an end. Leinster will lose the service of fellow Bok Jason Jenkins, who came good after signing for the Blues after injuries also limited his time with Munster.
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Leinster will be hoping it will be a similar story with Snyman.
Did they bother to check on why he keeps getting injuries? Did they think to check whether he is susceptible to certain types of injuries? And did they think to look at a conditioning coach who could advise him on certain ways to curtail the particular injuries he seems to keep on getting?
A conditioning coach might be expensive but to consider how much he is getting paid in sick leave, you would think they would consider slightly cheaper routes like hiring a conditioning coach for him.
RG Snyman plays consistently for the Springboks because they have a way of playing him with the proper time. Also they look to keep him healthy and well rested between times. Maybe he just needs to be gently eased in, play him for 15 minutes and keep an eye on him. And then if things improve slowly increase game time for him.
Course to extend his contract when the first two years did not produce much game time for him is probably their fault then.
Certainly isn't his fault. Let's see if a change of location would do him good.
It might also be a different climate that is working against him.
I have a friend who grew up in Norway and had terrible respiratory problems. He then moved with his family to Cape Town and his health had significantly improved and he has never had those problems again.
Is it possible the weather in Ireland is not helping his health?
Always had such respect for the Irish — since the days of Willie John McBride and others. No longer sure about that but then again Rassie speaks highly of the Irish and their similar tough approach to rugby. A pity about RG Snyman and hopefully they won't have a go at Kitshoff. Could just be what the Boks need to make it personal come The mid-year tour.
Surely some of this comes down to the strength and conditioning team, too. Why is he getting so consistently injured?
The biggest problem here was the length of contract he was given in the first place. A 2 year would have been plenty and it has become a very expensive mistake. Unfortunately it has to go down as a disastrous signing. There are many factors to why he has only played 11 matches in 4 seasons, injuries are a part of rugby but the amount he has suffered must come down to something else. Whether it be a genetic disposition to certain injuries, medical staff incompetence, lifestyle choices (length of time to come back from injuries), also torching himself on a bbq didn’t help, the fact his body keeps leaving him down/breaking down points to possibly afew things. Munster will feel aggrieved if he plays solidly for Leinster over the next 2 seasons. A fine player no doubt, however given the money spent, lack of game time/availability , another potential NIQ player space and wages taken up and the overall disappointment felt by fans as a result it definitely has to go down as the worst signing in irish club history.
Yes he’s turned out to be ‘the worst signing in history’, but that’s life.
It’s a hard game and injuries happen.
It’s worth remembering that as disappointed and frustrated as Munster fans might be, it isn’t anywhere near as disappointed and frustrated as R G Snyman would be.
These injuries have prevented him doing what he loves.
Lad of tissue paper. Has the internal fortitude of a wet noodle. Wish he would man up once and strap n and actually compete instead of being the poster child for “soft arse wimp.”
Instead just another inferior SH rugger stealing a paycheque.
So pick one of the many, many Irish locks that are so readily available or keep doing what you’re doing and stop whining.
I clicked on this article with the sole intention of scrolling to the bottom and commenting “Worst ever? That’s a bit harsh!”
But actually after realising who the article is about, it’s probably fair enough.
Oh great!…another Saffa we can have a go at!..Kitshof useless, Snyman never plays…why on earth buy them!…me thinks twinge of sour grapes…or maybe plain bad luck?
While I appreciate the point of the article and that this correction doesn’t change much, you say he only has 7 appearances for Munster when in fact he only has 7 starts, he also made 6 appearances off the bench.