Jason Jenkins certain RG Snyman will blossom at Leinster

RED TO BLUE: Munster's RG Snyman makes a break. Pic: Ben Brady, Inpho

Strange the way life works sometimes. RG Snyman and Jason Jenkins go way back. They spent too long in the Munster treatment room at one point and now the former’s arrival at Leinster has effectively forced the latter out the door at UCD.

Snyman will make the trip from Limerick to Dublin this summer and the IRFU’s policies on NIQs (non-Irish qualified players) means that they were never going to facilitate a situation where one province had two Springbok locks in the same department.

So it is that Jenkins will finish up with Leinster after two seasons when the current campaign is done and move home to South Africa. His move to the Sharks, where he will be joined by Trevor Nyakane, has already been confirmed.

“It is a bit bittersweet,” said the second row ahead of Leinster’s game away to Zebre this week. “I have loved my time at Leinster. Myself and RG are best mates and he spoke to me a lot during his decision-making.

“He obviously had one or two options and just speaking to him I am so excited for him. I know what this environment is like and he will be able to experience this. If there is one man who deserves a break it is him so I am very happy for him.” 

If Jenkins was caught in the middle of this provincial movement then he was more than happy to act as an intermediary in smoothing the process along. He didn’t need to tell Leinster about Snyman as a player but he was able to reassure his compatriot.

After all, switches from red to blue are still a rare enough occurrence.

“It’s always tough to go into a new environment as a player but I remember day one how welcoming everyone was. Even coming from Munster they welcomed me immediately. I told him he doesn’t have to stress about it. I’m sure he will be very happy in this environment.” 

Jenkins is hoping that his departure from Ireland won’t make for a definitive end. Capped just once by the Springboks, he hasn’t given up hope of being involved again and Andy Farrell’s squad is due down in Durban and Pretoria for two Tests soon enough.

There is work enough to be done before that.

Leinster confirmed that James Ryan had an operation on the bicep injury that forced him out of the last two Six Nations games and it will be weeks before they have a better handle on any possible return.

Hugo Keenan is to be assessed having sat out the Scotland win with a hip problem while Ciaran Frawley is going through graduated return-to-play protocols after the head knock he took in Twickenham two weekends ago.

But back to the second row.

Jenkins has featured a dozen times already this season and Ryan’s ongoing absence all but guarantees lots more heavy lifting in the weeks to come. Not just for him but for Joe McCarthy after the youngster’s key role for Ireland in recent months.

McCarthy’s impact lessened as the tournament went on but his performance away to Marseille in round one confirmed just what an exciting prospect he is and he carries a bulk and an explosiveness that is rare for an Irish lock.

“Joe has been absolutely incredible,” said Jenkins. “He has been a bit of a freak athlete. He is so good and so physical around the rucks and with ball in hand. This has been a breakthrough season for him, not just in the Irish squad.

“He really stepped up for Leinster when he got his opportunity. He took it with both hands and really stepped up. Such a nice guy off the field, extremely humble, asking questions even though he was in the World Cup squad. He is still looking to learn off different players.” 

The hope is that Leinster, who have fallen short this last two seasons, can feed off Ireland’s ability to claim back-to-back Championships as they look ahead to the closing months of the club season and Jenkins would dearly love to lift a trophy before saying goodbye.

Ask him if and why the province is better set to do just that this term than last and he points immediately to the presence of Jacques Nienaber as defence coach and the club’s constant willingness to find new ways and move forward.

“Now it’s just nailing the final bits and making them work.”