Reds hoping it’s third time lucky as Snyman returns
IT’S been a long time coming — 18 months, to be exact — but RG Snyman is set to make his long-awaited comeback for Munster in this evening’s United Rugby Championship clash with the Scarlets at Musgrave Park. The World Cup-winning Springbok was hailed as a game-changing signing when he arrived at Thomond Park, but Snyman’s debut lasted just seven minutes after he ruptured his ACL against Leinster at Aviva Stadium in August 2020.
The 28-year-old did make it back on the field almost a year later only to rupture his ACL again just three games into his comeback. Snyman and Munster will be hoping it will be third time lucky as the South African forward takes his place on the bench for this league encounter in Cork.
Gavin Coombes, Roman Salanoa and Joey Carbery start for the hosts after they returned from international duty last week. Meanwhile, Munster have confirmed the immediate departure of Chris Farrell, with the international centre set to join a club in France.
In September, it was announced that Farrell would step back from his playing duties ‘whilst legal proceedings in France, concerning his involvement as a witness to an alleged crime in 2017, are on-going.’ But Munster have now confirmed that the 29-year-old has been released from his contract.
MUNSTER: P Campbell; C Nash, A Frisch, M Fekitoa, S Daly; J Carbery, P Patterson; J Wycherley, D Barron, R Salanoa; J Kleyn, F Wycherley; J O’Donoghue (capt), J Hodnett, G Coombes. Reps: N Scannell, M Donnelly, K Knox, RG Snyman, A Kendellen, E Coughlan, J Crowley, J O’Sullivan.
SCARLETS: J McNicholl; T Rogers, J Roberts, I Nicholas, S Evans; S Costelow, D Blacker, K Mathias; S Evans, S Wainwright; V Fifita, S Lousi; J Macleod (capt), D Davis, S Kalamafoni. Reps: T Davies, S Thomas, J Sebastian, M Jones, C Tuipulotu, G Davies, D Jones, J Williams.
TV: Kick-off at 7.35pm, Musgrave Park. LIVE on RTÉ 2 from 7pm.