RG Snyman has struggled with injury for four seasons at Munster.
Munster's Springbok lock RG Snyman has revealed he was suffering from pneumonia when he missed last month's Champions Cup Round of 16 defeat to Northampton Saints.
The hapless South African has been plagued by injury during his time in red and will make his first start at Thomond Park in four seasons against Connacht next Saturday.
He recovered from the illness to star in their successful tour to the Rainbow Nation, with the province putting themselves in a strong position to retain their URC crown by collecting 10 points against the Bulls and the Lions as they recovered from the defeat at Franklin's Gardens. .
Many of the players who played were ill during that match, but Snyman's illness was more serious.
“Basically I didn't have what the rest of the guys had, I had pneumonia,” he said.
“So I wasn't feeling well for those two weeks and it's not the easiest thing to play at altitude in Pretoria, but it all turned out fine.
“It was definitely a shock, the first big training we had there, I must say.
“But if you at least know what to expect and know how you're going to feel, and get that iron taste in the back of your throat as you run, it's not a new experience, you know, growing up there.
“I certainly knew what to expect, but it was definitely a shock that first training.”
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Snyman, who moves to Leinster at the end of the season, is targeting a big finish in Munster ahead of Saturday's match with Connacht.
“My journey here and my time here have not been the easiest, but I have been as committed as I could have been throughout this time,” he said.
“It's almost like all the opportunities that I didn't get in the end are thrown into this last part of the season and into the opportunities that I do get.”