RG Snyman’s hideous run of luck with serious injury during his time playing professional rugby in Ireland has seen the double World Cup winner ruled out for the remainder of Leinster’s season after he suffered a third ACL injury during his time in the country.
The confirmation that the South African secondrow ruptured his knee ligament against Glasgow brings his season to a premature end, reviving memories of his unfortunate run of injuries when he was with Munster under coach Johann van Graan.
Snyman made his debut for Munster with a win against Leinster in August 2020 but lasted just seven minutes when he tore his ACL at a lineout. He did it again in 2021 in just his third game back to force another long lay-off.
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“Yeah, look, it’s an injury that he’s had before twice,” said Leinster assistant coach Jacques Nienaber on Tuesday. “So, I mean, the positive thing is you have a good understanding of what the road ahead looks like.
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“So, I think from that point of view, and RG is that type of guy. It’s happened, it’s not the first time it’s happened to a rugby player. It’s not going to be the last time it’s happened to a rugby player.
“The key thing is that is rugby, unfortunately, it’s a contact sport and you just need to try and deal with the fact that you’re injured. Then you have to focus on, okay, let’s get the operation done. Let’s get myself medically sorted out and then you go on the path of rehab. And that’s just how life is, isn’t it?”
Leinster have several international players who have not seen much game time with their club this season, including prop Andrew Porter, fullback Hugo Keenan, flanker Ryan Baird and utility back Jamie Osborne.
Other players are currently waiting to be assessed for injuries later in the week head of Sunday’s Champions Cup Round of 16 game against Edinburgh at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 5.30pm), including centre Garry Ringrose, lock James Ryan, utility back Jimmy O’Brien and prop Tadhg Furlong.
[ Leinster confirm RG Snyman is out for the season after rupturing ACLOpens in new window ]
“If you look at a guy like Ports [Andrew Porter], he’s only played four games for us this season,” said Nienaber. “Same with Jamie Osborne, I think he’s only played three times for us.
“Hugo [Keenan] had only his first game back two weeks ago against Glasgow. So, I think there’s a lot of players that have had fairly bad luck. And Bairdo [Ryan Baird] is only coming back now. I think he’s only played three or four times for us this season.
“So, RG is not unique in the sense that he has a long-term injury. I think there’s a couple of them. And if you look at Jack Boyle, he’s out for the season. Paddy’s [McCarthy] out for the season. So, it happens to a lot of them.”
Ryan, who missed the final game of the Six Nations against Scotland in Dublin, did not train on Tuesday with Leinster due to a calf injury, which could keep him out of Sunday’s game.
If Ryan does not make the starting squad, it could put pressure on Leinster’s secondrow depth with Snyman also missing.
“Obviously, if you look at where we were at loosehead at one stage with Ports being injured and then you lose Boiler [Jack Boyle] and then you lose Paddy [McCarthy]. So, it’s always tough if you get three injuries in one position,” said Nienaber.
“So that really tests your depth. But it is what it is. We’re not the only team that that will happen to. So, I think it happens to everybody somewhere along the season. Yeah, it’s just something that we will have to manage.”
Edinburgh lost twice over the last two weeks in South Africa in the United Rugby Championship, something Leinster also did at the beginning of the season. Edinburgh were beaten by Stormers 33-14 last weekend and by the Lions 54-17 the week before.
Despite those setbacks, Edinburgh have already beaten strong sides such as Toulon, Bath and Castres this season, while six of their players lined out against Ireland in the Six Nations.
“I think that if you go in with a mindset of listen, it’s only Edinburgh, I think they can put you to the sword like they did with Toulon,” said Nienaber.
“I think they’re a team that have good individuals and well coached. I mean, it’s the first time in three seasons that they actually got through to the knock-out stages of the European Cup.”
