Leinster v Stormers
Aviva Stadium (5.0, live on TG4, Premier Sports)
RG Snyman relayed a conversation he had with Leinster and Ireland captain Caelan Doris as the two watched Bath jump into a 14-0 lead from the padded seats where the replacements were housed during last weekend’s Champions Cup pool match at the Aviva Stadium.
His words offered a window into the mindset of the Springbok international, revealed values, his character and a preferred comportment on a rugby pitch. As a soundbite it was refreshing. There are few if any young players that have Snyman’s lavish talent but there are other cues that they can adopt from the example he sets.
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Snyman explained: “Myself and Caelan were sitting on the bench in the first half and we just had a chat. Obviously, Bath had a really strong start, and we said, ‘listen, we have to go and make an impact, but let’s have fun while we do it, let’s just go play rugby’. I think we managed to do that.”
When summoned from the cosy nook in the stand Doris provided Leinster’s attack with a focal point, getting over the gain-line while drawing in multiple defenders, and Snyman, well, he reached into his conjuror’s bag for an assortment of tricks; rugby balls disappeared in his hand, and he scored a couple of tries that would be beyond the reach of mere mortals.
The South African downplayed his role, preferring to thrust others into the spotlight. He named outhalf Sam Prendergast, who materialised on Snyman’s shoulder to take an offload in the build-up to one of the tries.
Is Prendergast responding to you or are you responding to him? “I have to give credit to Sam there. He’s a guy that can read the game very well, always ready to get the ball, and there’s no better player to offload the ball to there in a situation like that.
“I didn’t know he was there [initially] but he was able to put himself in that position. Sometimes there can be a little bit of a disconnect when you want to throw offload or something like that but not with Sam, he’s always there. Even the play that came off the back of that, handing the ball off again and then being able to get the line break; it’s incredible.”
The European game also contained a little bit of left-field thinking when it came to one of Snyman’s specialities – the lineout. On one occasion Garry Ringrose was hoisted into the air, with Robbie Henshaw one of the lifters.
Snyman smiled: “He [Ringrose] didn’t have his leg strapped and that was a little bit disappointing, but we’ll manage to get him strapped up the next time, maybe use him for a couple more options.
“It’s definitely something that we’re trying to incorporate in our game, our creativity as guys who look at the lineout and try to incorporate different things to make it a little bit more difficult for other teams to prepare and think about what we might bring.”
The secondrow is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with a host of Springbok team-mates as Leinster host the Stormers at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. “Growing up in Pretoria and playing for the Bulls in the past, the Stormers would be a big rivalry. I’m looking forward to facing a familiar enemy in a sense and some friends.
“It’s kind of strange to say enemy, because a lot of those guys are also team-mates and friends, but it’s definitely one I’m looking forward to and an exciting game.”
Dan Sheehan will play his first match since suffering an ACL tear in the first Test against South Africa last July while left wing James Lowe, who picked up a leg injury playing for Ireland against Australia in the Autumn Nations series, will wear the Leinster jersey for the first time since last October.
Jordie Barrett provides quality and experience in a backline that includes a couple of talented tyros in fullback Henry McErlean and Andrew Osborne. Jack Boyle was furloughed from Ireland camp to get some game time and will join Sheehan and Lowe on a flight to Portugal on Sunday morning. Rabah Slimani has been released from the French camp to play the game.
Leinster supporters will be interested to see how the younger generation – Brian Deeny and Alex Soroka in the run-on team and Paddy McCarthy, Rory McGuire, Diarmuid Mangan, James Culhane and Charlie Tector on the bench – fare against a physically strong Stormers side sprinkled with Springboks.
Warrick Gelant, Manie Libbok, Ben-Jason Dixon and Deon Fourie all come into the starting line-up, where Evan Roos is a standout talent, while Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat and Herschel Jantjies are among the replacements.
Leinster are unbeaten this season in the URC and Europe, but the Stormers have shown growth in terms of performances and results this season and will provide a formidable test. There are many strands outside of the outcome that will make this game interesting.
Players want opportunity. This is one and with some experienced direction, the home side should continue their winning way.
Leinster: H McErlean; A Osborne, L Turner, J Barrett, J Lowe; R Byrne, L McGrath; J Boyle, D Sheehan (capt), R Slimani; RG Snyman, B Deeny; A Soroka, S Penny, M Deegan. Replacements: J McKee, P McCarthy, R McGuire, D Mangan, J Culhane, W Connors, C Foley, C Tector.
Stormers: W Gelant; B Loader, R Nel, J Roche, L Zas; M Libbok, P de Wet; A Vermaak, J Dweba, N Fouche; JD Schickerling, R van Heerden; D Fourie, B-J Dixon, E Roos. Replacements: A-H Venter, B Harris, F Malherbe, S Moerat, M Theunissen, P de Villiers, H Jantjies, W Simelane.
Referee: E Cross (IRFU).
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