Brian O’Driscoll issues ominous warning to RG Snyman who will ‘deserve what he gets’ from former Munster team-mates at Croke Park

Leinster legend Brian O’Driscoll insists that RG Snyman will cop it from Munster during their huge derby this weekend.

The arch-rivals will go head-to-head in front of over 80,000 people at Croke Park in what will be their first clash since the Springboks lock moved to Dublin.

Snyman made the controversial switch at the end of the campaign after spending four years at Munster.

Choice between two Springboks

Graham Rowntree’s men were unable to keep both him and Jean Kleyn after the latter became non-Irish qualified, and they chose to re-sign Kleyn.

However, Snyman wanted to remain in Ireland and, for the gargantuan second-row at least, going to Leinster was the logical choice.

It did not go down well with Munster’s fans, players or coaches due to the rivalry between the two Irish giants and O’Driscoll expects the Boks forward to be targeted.

“Obviously, they’re going to try and whack him,” the Ireland great told Off The Ball. “Good luck. It would be easier if Craig Casey had come across wouldn’t it?

“He deserves what he gets, that’s what you get for moving across, but he’s well able to handle it.”

Ireland star: ‘Bigger Viking’ RG Snyman is ‘bringing something very special’ to Leinster

Snyman has been named in the starting line-up to face his old side and O’Driscoll believes that the Bok will be an outstanding signing for Leinster when he reaches full match fitness.

“The game he can bring to this Leinster team is so exciting. I think his off-load game is so suited to what Leinster are trying to do – loose and fast,” he said.

“I was worried in one of the games [for Munster] – I think it was the Glasgow semi-final – where I thought he looked out on his feet.

“I was wondering, ‘maybe he is a 20-minute player, that’s why South Africa have him coming off the bench’, but he’s obviously been really lacking match fitness over the course of the last three or four seasons.

“Multiple injuries, long-term injuries and so it’s going to take a while to properly get back [to full match fitness].

Off-loading ability

Snyman is an incredibly physical player but he also has a remarkable skill set which could provide a point of difference for Leinster this season.

“He reminds me of Nathan Hines with those long arms. It’s so hard to lock the ball up because he’s such a huge man,” O’Driscoll added.

“To hit him and lock an arm is going to take two or three players, and he still has that capacity to be able to get that ball away.

“If he can stay fit, I think he will be an unbelievably good player for Leinster this year. But he’s going to get it on Saturday and I’m sure he’s going to encourage it, look forward to it and thrive in it.”

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