BBC Rugby Union: Doubts Emerge Over RG Snyman’s Fitness for Full 80-Minute Performances
Former Ireland forward Alan Quinlan has expressed concerns over whether double Rugby World Cup winner RG Snyman is currently in good enough physical condition to last a full 80 minutes on the pitch.
The 29-year-old Springboks lock has struggled with a series of injuries over the past few years, including two ACL ruptures after joining Irish province Munster in 2020. Snyman also required knee grafts following a freak firepit accident in June 2021.
Despite his impressive achievements, including playing a role in South Africa’s World Cup successes and Munster’s run to the United Rugby Championship title in 2023, Quinlan believes Snyman may not be fit enough to sustain the requisite intensity for an entire match.
“He’s not fit enough,” Quinlan told Off The Ball, acknowledging that this is “not a big criticism” of Snyman, who has been “out for so long.” The rugby pundit suggested that Munster have been cautiously “managing” the towering lock, opting to bring him off the bench in recent games, including the URC semi-final defeat to Glasgow Warriors last weekend.
Quinlan explained:
“Of course he’s capable of playing 80 minutes, but I think they (Munster) were trying to manage him and I got it, I understood it. A lot of people were saying: ‘Why didn’t he start?’ If he starts and he’s waning a little bit at 50 minutes then is it better to bring him off? That’s always the risk you take.”
The former Ireland international praised Snyman’s ability to “come up with unbelievably magical and big moments” but expressed doubts over whether the lock can “sustain” the required intensity for a full match, even if he is technically “fit.”
As the Springboks prepare for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in Australia, Quinlan’s comments raise interesting questions about Snyman’s potential role in Rassie Erasmus’ plans. With the starting lock duo from the 2019 World Cup final approaching their mid-30s, the 29-year-old could have an opportunity to step up, but his fitness and ability to perform for the duration of matches may be a key consideration.
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