RG Snyman close to debut as Leinster eye up Springboks tricks

RG Snyman is getting closer to his Leinster debut as the province confirmed he has stepped up his recovery from a foot injury.

Leo Cullen's side began their BKT United Rugby Champion season with a narrow win over Edinburgh at the weekend and host the Dragons at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night.

The South African lock may come into contention for his first start in blue since making the summer switch from rivals Munster.

"He was in the 'unit training' last week and we saw progression today, he was a bit more with the team," assistant coach Tyler Bleyendaal told RTÉ Sport.

"The challenge this week is it's a short week. We've got one more training now.

"Hopefully he's out there, he's trying to make himself available.

"He's had some bad luck but he's always really good mentally. He's applying himself and if he can get through the week he might have a shot."

Snyman, a double World Cup winner, has been training with Leinster for the last few weeks and team-mate Max Deegan says they are in the process of adding some Springboks lineout tricks to their repertoire.

"It's particularly interesting to have him in the lineout meetings," said the 27-year-old back row forward.

"I'm trying to improve my game in the lineout and what he brings from being in the South Africa camp and the way they run their lineouts, players like [Pieter-Steph] du Toit, [Eben] Etzebeth, [Franco] Mostert, these guys, and what they are thinking in different scenarios and situations has been really interesting.

"We've kind of brought one or two things in from there because we feel like it makes a lot of sense.

"We are also looking forward to him playing and being that massive man and physical character in the lineout and around the park.

"I can't wait [to play with him],