Leinster star hailed as ‘phenomenal’ by Bath boss Johann Van Graan after Champions Cup clash

LEINSTER star RG Snyman was hailed as ‘phenomenal’ after Leo Cullen’s side came from behind to beat Bath yesterday in the Champions Cup.

The Blues came from behind after the break to produce a dominant seven-try performance that saw them defeat Bath 47-21 at the Aviva Stadium in front of over 40,000 fans.

Snyman scored two tries in total on yet another victorious night for the four-time European champions.

The Dublin-based province extended their perfect record this season as former Munster boss Van Grann hailed his compatriot.

Van Grann signed the player during his time at Munster before the second-row penned a deal to join Leinster from their rivals.

Speaking to RTE after the game at Aviva Stadium, Van Grann had nothing but praise for the World Cup winner.

The pair know one another for a long time after the Van Grann coached the 29-year-old at school.

Speaking after his sides defeat, he said: “You all know how highly I rate him [Snyman] as a player.

“Somebody that I signed at Munster and he’s now at Leinster and I thought he was phenomenal.

“The two of us come back a long way from when I started coaching him at school. He’s got this ability to get the ball away.

“He’s got incredible hands and a natural feeling for the game. Not to speak about his size and his hitting and his poaching and his line-out. But he kind of makes something happen out of nothing.

“He pulls three, four, five defenders in around him and I thought he was on fire tonight.

“That’s why I believe he’s one of the best players in the world.”

The Bath reckons that Leo Cullen’s side can now kick on and win the competition once again after three final defeats in as many consecutive years.

He added: “In my view, Leinster is, in terms of their pipeline, the best in world rugby.

“What they’ve done with their school system is getting aligned into their academy – if you just think about it, 23 players going to the Six Nations from this team – and then if you add some of the best players in the world.”