Mike Prendergast is hoping Munster can tap into South Africa's World Cup victory when their Springbok second rows return to action, but the province's assistant coach says it will be three or four weeks before RG Snyman and Jean Kleyn are back.
The pair came off the bench on Saturday at the Stade de France to help see out South Africa's 12-11 win against New Zealand in the World Cup final, and are now heading on a four-day, five-city trophy tour to Johannesburg, Soweto, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban before they enjoy some downtime.
Kleyn earned a surprise call-up to the Springbok squad in May having been overlooked by Ireland, who he represented in 2019, while Snyman looks like he's back to his best after overcoming two career-threatening knee injuries.
Like other provinces, Munster will have a drip-feed of internationals back into their squad following the World Cup. Craig Casey is the first of their Irish contingent to return and is available for selection for this Saturday's meeting with the Dragons at Musgrave Park (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
And Prendergast [below] says both Snyman and Kleyn will be afforded a well-earned break.
"They'll be another few weeks, another three to four weeks," he said of the second row pair.
"We'll give them a bit of time, and it's really important how we manage our internationals, both the South African boys and our Irish lads and how we integrate them back, because there's still a long season to go here.
"That will be crucial to clubs and competitions towards the back end of the competition, it's something we've spoke about in-depth.
"How we do that individually, that we can pad it out over the next number of weeks, hopefully that will stand to us towards the back end of the season."
Luckily for Munster they are well stocked in the second row while Snyman and Kleyn are away, with Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley and academy lock Edwin Edogbo featuring in their opening URC fixtures, while Tadhg Beirne is expected to return before the South African pair.
When Snyman and Kleyn do return, Prendergast is hoping they can bring that winning energy with them.
"They'll be coming back with two smiles on their faces, no doubt. And we'll look forward to that when the time comes, there'll be three or four weeks away and we'll tap in and look for the learnings and little bits and pieces that South Africa showed us in the World Cup this year.
"We'll be looking forward to them coming back, and just delighted for them as well, two separate cases.
"You look at RG, what he's done over the last number of months, winning a URC and now a World Cup and he had a long road to go through to get there. Jean Kleyn's experience as well was something very, very different, it all happened quickly and next thing you're playing in a World Cup final and winning it.
"I'm delighted for both of them and they'll bring a lot when they come back to us."
Having staged a late comeback to salvage a draw away to Benetton on Sunday, Munster will look to continue their unbeaten start when they host the Dragons on Saturday, although they could be without Joey Carbery due to injury.
The out-half is having a scan on a wrist injury he picked up in Italy.
"He could be [a doubt], he could be, as I said we have no final word back but if he is, we're preparing on that side of things. You have to, it's a short turnaround, we only came back from Italy yesterday, we were in today and we're prepared in case he doesn't make it," Prendergast added.
With Jack Crowley unavailable after the World Cup, Rory Scannell could move in front he centre to start at out-half on Saturday, while the province could also call upon Tony Butler from the academy.
The Ennis 21-year-old's only previous first team experience came off the bench in the province's Covid-hit Champions Cup game against Wasps in 2021, but Prendergast says they would have no hesitation putting him into the action this weekend if needed.
"Tony naturally got a few hit-outs with us in the pre-season games and fortunately enough within the club when we got together as a coaching staff last season we decided that we would all train together, our academy and seniors, so of guys do get called up or brought in, it's not too new for them.
"It's very, very important for them that players are comfortable with each other both on and off the pitch. It's something that we want to keep, so Tony has been exposed to a couple of games early on in this season, so if that's the case and we have to go to him he's been training well and has been training with partnerships as well which is really, really important for us," Prendergast said.
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