Jean Kleyn says there will be plenty of “animosity” when Ireland and Scotland lock horns on Saturday, in a showdown that could decide the Springboks’ World Cup fate.
A myriad of possibilities means that Ireland, Scotland and South Africa are all in contention for the quarter-finals of the World Cup, going into the final round of pool fixtures this week.
The Boks, who have already played all four of their games, currently top Pool B with 15 points, while Ireland are second on 14 points and Scotland are third (10).
Ireland and Scotland will face off in Paris, with the Scots only needing to win and deny the Irish any losing bonus points to progress on the head-to-head rule.
However, a 49-28 victory for Scotland, with Ireland scoring four tries, would see both teams go through to the quarter-finals, with the defending world-champion Boks going home.
Speaking in a Bok conference on Wednesday, lock Kleyn was quizzed on how he sees the meeting between Ireland and Scotland playing out.
“We’re probably going to see Ireland win, but just because the Irish beat us last week I’d say I’d like to see Scotland win over them,” joked Kleyn, who was cleared by World Rugby to represent the country of his birth this year due to a change in regulations, after first being capped by Ireland on residency.
“No, realistically speaking, we’ll probably see Ireland come out victorious there. They’re a very good team at the moment.”
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On the rivalry between Irish and Scottish teams, he added: “There’s a high level of attrition. There’s a little bit of animosity between the Irish and the Scots and there always has been, especially from a rugby perspective.
“At club level, you look at teams like Munster and Glasgow there’s always been this underlying – I wouldn’t call it hatred – but there’s a little bit of knife in the back.
“There’s a real combative thing about it. For Ireland and Scotland [Tests], it’s even more so. It’s very much magnified at international level. Everything’s a little bit closer to the bone and everything’s a little bit more real. I think it’s going to be a serious match.”
A second-row bruiser in the mold of Bok enforcer Eben Etzebeth, Kleyn has played a key role as part of the Bomb Squad, where he has made a massive impact alongside a rejuvenated Munster teammate RG Snyman.
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“RG had repeated ACL [injuries] which is pretty much a death sentence to most rugby players. He’s a good friend of mine. I can’t tell you just how impressed I was with his outlook on life. He was always positive, always tried to add – even though he was two years out of rugby,” Kleyn said.
“If you speak to anyone at Munster they will give you testament to the impact he has had at the club, and he’s only played 10 games or something, of which most of them were this season.
“He’s as head-strong a guy as I have ever met and probably will ever meet. Credit to him, he went through absolute war and came out on top.
“You can see that as well in being called up to the Springboks after virtually not playing rugby for three years. That takes some doing.”
Photo: Antonin Thuillier/AFP