RG Snyman

RG Snyman is the most gifted second row of his generation and has spent most of it injured, which is the whole story and also unfair as a summary.

At just over two metres he offers what almost no lock does: genuine offloading skill out of contact. He carries into two defenders and gets the ball away, which turns a stalled phase into a line break and is the reason coaches keep finding room for him.

The injury list has been extraordinary — a knee ligament rupture minutes into his Munster debut, then a series of setbacks including a fire-pit accident that would have ended a less stubborn career.

When he has been available he has been decisive, most obviously off the bench in World Cup knockout matches where South Africa needed size and calm in the same substitution.

A move to Leinster has given him the most stable run of rugby he has had in years. On availability alone he is a gamble. On ability there is no argument.