RG Snyman targets return to green and gold for RWC

The towering second rower has suffered a plethora of injuries over the last 24 months, but has returned to full fitness and featured prominently for Irish giants Munster.

Speaking to the Irish Mirror ahead of Munster's United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against the Glasgow Warriors on Saturday, Snyman is all too aware of the weight of his performances, especially with the global showpiece just four months away.

"I hope the performances I put in now and every moment I get I want to show I am capable of being back with the Springboks and putting my hand up [for Rugby World Cup selection]," said the 28-year-old.

Snyman said his Munster teammates are taking inspiration from their recent tour to South Africa, where they upset the Stormers - the URC defending champions - and ground out a draw against the in-form Sharks.

"Growing up in Pretoria there would have always been a big rivalry for us, the guys from the south, there's that north-south rivalry in South Africa as well and so it was a good one for me personally," said the Potchefstroom-born player of the win over the Stormers in Cape Town.

"We've sort of come to realise what this team can achieve over in South Africa. Now, that brought us all together and it made us realise, 'OK listen, we can achieve, we can do this'.

"It strengthened the bond between us and made our eyes open to what we can do as a team together because going over there and playing two great sides, it's not an easy thing to do in itself.

"The performances and results speak for themselves. The way we talk now in our meetings and in the locker room, it's all about going forward and what can I do to get better, and what can I do to bring the best out of the guy next to me and he feels the same way.

"So I really think we've started to put that together and realise the value in that, and again going back to that South Africa tour there was the realisation 'OK, we can do this'."