No panic for Springboks despite another RG Snyman injury setback

The latest injury setback to Springboks lock RG Snyman, confirmed by his club Leinster after their United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against Glasgow Warriors, is undoubtedly disappointing.

The towering lock, affectionately known as “The Viking”, has endured a stop-start international career due to injuries. This latest development could see him missing most of an important 2026 international rugby season.

Yet, for all the initial alarm and headlines pointing to a lock crisis, this is not a situation that should unsettle the world champions as they continue building towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Snyman’s unique skill set — the offloading game he has mastered, his athleticism, and presence in open play — adds a different dimension to the Springboks’ pack and their evolving attack under Tony Brown.

However, the success of the four-time World Cup winners in recent years has not been built around individuals, but rather on a system that prioritises depth, adaptability, and the collective.

The return of Eben Etzebeth from suspension immediately softens the blow. A stalwart of the Bok pack, Etzebeth brings experience, physical dominance, and leadership up front. Alongside him, the Springboks also have a well-established rotation policy that ensures continuity, even with injury disruptions.

Beyond the established names, a new generation of locks is steadily emerging. Only receiving a first virtual alignment camp invitation this season, JJ van der Mescht has impressed with his performances abroad, while Bulls lock Cobus Wiese continues to develop into a dependable option domestically.

At franchise level, the Lions’ Ruan Venter has showcased his physicality and work rate for the Lions, and he is having a stellar season. He can play at flank and lock. The same goes for Ben-Jason Dixon, who offers valuable versatility within the Stormers team.

This depth is precisely what head coach Rassie Erasmus has looked to create for moments like this. The Springboks’ squad management over the last couple of years has been with an eye on ensuring that injuries, while disruptive, do not derail their performance on the big stage. They’ve tested it repeatedly in 2024 and 2025 — and it has proven to deliver success.

The Boks have proven that they can compete and win without Snyman. His absence, while unfortunate, does not fundamentally alter the balance of the squad, and plenty of players can fill the big boots of the versatile lock.

If anything, the current lock situation presents the Boks with another opportunity to show why they are regarded as the squad with the most depth in the world.  

With a demanding season ahead, starting against England in July and including the much-anticipated Greatest Rivalry Tour against the All Blacks, the need to build depth and give exposure to emerging players becomes even more critical. Injuries, like this one, can accelerate the development of squad players and broaden the team’s options ahead of the World Cup in Australia.

There is no doubt that Snyman would strengthen any team. But this latest setback is one they are well equipped to absorb and to prove that they have the understudies to fill big boots should it be required this season.