Munster’s Jean Kleyn was set for a recall to Ireland’s World Cup training squad before switching allegiance to South Africa, according to Paul O’Connell.
Kleyn was capped five times by Ireland in 2019 after qualifying on the residency rule, but this year used World Rugby’s new eligibility laws to switch back to his home nation and make his debut for the Springboks.
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The 29-year-old has not played for Ireland since the 2019 World Cup, but boosted his stocks by helping Munster produce a stunning run of results to win the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in Cape Town.
Despite this, Kleyn was overlooked by Andy Farrell when Ireland’s 2023 World Cup training squad was announced and the Springboks pounced on the opportunity to add a new enforcer to their group.
In an interview with RTE, former Ireland captain Paul O’Connell said there was serious consideration given to calling Kleyn up.
“He was very close,” said O’Connell, who serves as Ireland’s forwards coach.
“He’s very experienced now, experienced different coaching staffs with Munster. He was part of a really successful Munster team this year and he does what he does really well. He’s an excellent mauler, excellent maul-defender. I think his ball-handling and his defence has improved massively now in the last few years.
“He looked very comfortable playing for Munster. The forwards were asked a little bit more of them this year and he was very comfortable.
“It was close, it was tight, I suppose some of the guys we had in the squad already, we felt we’d invested a good bit in them already, they were a little bit younger, they were quite big men as well in their own right.”
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Kleyn will make his second Test start for the Springboks in the World Cup warm-up match against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday, forming the second row with Marvin Orie.
Photo: PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP