Nienaber raves about 'Sonny Bill' Snyman
02/09/2025 01:03 AM
Former Springbok boss Jacques Nienaber has praised RG Snyman's rare ability to offload in contact, highlighting the lock's natural athleticism as the key to his standout play.
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with Rapport, Nienaber likened the two-time World Cup-winning Springbok's skill set to that of former All Black centre Sonny Bill Williams.
“He does it because he’s so tall. It’s usually guys with long arms. He gets his hands above the tackle. Sonny Bill Williams was also a tall player and always got his arms through the tackle,” said Nienaber, whoo now coaches Snyman at Leinster.
Snyman's ability to release the ball under pressure has made him a Vodacom URC leader in offloads but Nienaber insists it's not a skill that the man nicknamed 'The Viking' actively trains.
“It’s something RG has always had in his arsenal. I first coached him when he played for the South African Schools team, and he was already good at it," he said.
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Snyman has also drawn attention for his lineout prowess, frequently controlling the ball with one hand in testing northern hemisphere conditions.
“What makes it special for RG is doing it in these conditions. It’s wet, cold and windy,” Nienaber said.
While some view one-handed lineout handling as risky, Nienaber sees it as a natural extension of Snyman's skill set.
“If it’s part of your skills, you can do it. If you pass the ball with one hand and you make a poor pass, it’s not going to be celebrated by the team and coaches,” he explained.
“You have to make sure the ball comes out of the scrumhalf’s hands as accurately as possible. Whether it’s with one or two hands, it doesn’t really matter.”
Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images
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