'It's everything, he is a world class player' - RG Snyman's return leaves Munster well-stocked at lock

Graham Rowntree lets out an ironic chuckle when it's suggested to him that the province's second row stocks are looking healthier than ever heading into the business end of the season.

Even allowing for the ankle injury that will keep Tadhg Beirne out until May, the Munster head coach is in a position where he has a positive selection headache for the coming games at lock.

Only a few months ago, they had supply issues in the engine room that would have rivalled Brexit.

Jean Kleyn held the fort for several months this season when stocks were low, while injuries Fineen Wycherley, Edwin Edogbo, Tom Ahern and RG Snyman's setbacks left them so depleted at the position that they had to commission Gavin Coombes into a second row on occasion.

When Wycherley, Edogbo and Ahern all fell to injuries within a few weeks, the Munster coach was so desperate for bodies he signed Kiran McDonald on a short-term deal without even knowing who he was. Following Munster's win against South Africa at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in November, the Rowntree admitted he hadn't even heard of the Scottish lock before his name came up as a potential signing, but thankfully it didn't come back to haunt the province, with McDonald doing a solid job in his three appearances.

Snyman made his long-awaited comeback in Friday night's chaotic 49-42 win against Scarlets, while Rowntree says he expects to have Ahern and Edogbo available for selection when they return to action on 25 March.

In a game with 13 tries, Snyman's introduction on 63 minutes was the moment of the night at Musgrave Park. Seventeen months after his comeback from an ACL injury was cut short, the Springbok was back in the red of Munster, and against the side he suffered his latest knee injury against, ins