Following 18 months of rehabilitation, RG Snyman is set to make his return for Munster tomorrow evening against the Scarlets in Musgrave Park.
The World Cup-winning Springbok has been sidelined due to two consecutive ACL tears which have seen him play less than a full game of rugby since coming to Irish shores.
His return to play will be from the bench in Cork, with defence coach Dennis Leamy not showing any concern for the second-row getting his first taste on the artificial 4G surface.
“I don’t think there is enough evidence to suggest that there is a great danger in playing RG or any players on 4G pitches,” said Leamy.
He spoke on the press call earlier this week saying "he’s [Snyman] back in a position for selection and we feel like it’s time to have a good discussion around whether this Friday night is the right time or maybe to push him out further another week."
The 6ft 10in second row's return could not have come at a better time with less than a month to go before the province travel to his home country for Munster's Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 tie with the Cell C Sharks.
In other news ahead of Friday night, Graeme Rowntree has made three changes to the team that beat the Ospreys two weeks ago.
Hooker Diarmuid Barron starts on his 50th Munster appearance as Academy player Patrick Campbell and Calvin Nash also come into the side.
Paddy Patterson and Joey Carbery start in the half-backs for their third consecutive game together, while Malakai Fekitoa and Antoine Frisch resume their partnership in the midfield.
The continuity in selection continues in the forward pack where Jean Kleyn, who makes his 17th start of the season, and Fineen Wycherley are paired together in the engine room for the third successive game.
Gavin Coombes returns from Ireland camp to start in an unchanged back-row with Waterford man Jack O’Donoghue captaining alongside John Hodnett.
Munster: Patrick Campbell; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Malakai Fekitoa, Shane Daly; Joey Carbery, Paddy Patterson; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.Replacements: Niall Scannell, Mark Donnelly, Keynan Knox, RG Snyman, Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Jack Crowley, Jack O’Sullivan.
Kick-off in Musgrave Park is at 7.35 pm, Friday.
