Munster bring back the big guns for Bulls

Defending Vodacom United Rugby Championship champions Munster have brought out their big guns for Saturday’s showdown with the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

With two weeks to prepare and buoyed by the return to fitness of several players - including Springbok giant RG Syman, as well as Oli Jager, Shane Daly and Calvin Nash, they will be arriving as close to full strength as possible for the fixture.

The return of Snyman to Loftus Versfeld, where he played his junior rugby and became a prominent player is something of a coup for the fixture, which will play a massive role in determining both sides’ fortunes for the rest of the competition.

Jager is highly rated and will be used to counter the Bulls’ scrum, which has certainly been impressive of late, while Ireland wing Nash is deadly in space. Fineen Wycherley is another top player back to help the Munster army out on their tour date.

Ireland captain Peter O’Mahony is also in the touring squad alongside stars like Tadgh Beirne, Gavin Coombes, Thomas Ahern and Alex Kendellen. Both Ireland scrumhalves in Craig Casey and Conor Murray are in the side while veteran Simon Zebo is also traveling to Pretoria.

Munster will face the Lions next weekend as they have two weeks on the highveld and are currently fourth in the log, and need to come away with points in both if they are to secure a top four placing.

Munster squad

Forwards: Scott Buckley, Eoghan Clarke, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Mark Donnelly, Oli Jager, Jeremy Loughman, Josh Wycherley, Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne, RG Snyman, Fineen Wycherley, Gavin Coombes, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Peter O’Mahony

Backs: Craig Casey, Ethan Coughlan, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Jack Crowley, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly, Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Sean O’Brien, Simon Zebo