Lock Jean Kleyn is still pinching himself that he will get the opportunity to make his Springbok debut against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
After a surprise callup to the Bok squad for the Rugby Championship, Kleyn, who played five Tests for Ireland in 2019, was cleared by World Rugby to represent South Africa this year due to a change in regulations.
He will pair up with Marvin Orie in the engine room as the Boks kick off their 2023 Rugby Championship campaign this weekend.
Asked in a Bok conference about his reaction when he received the call from SA’s director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, to play for the Springboks, Kleyn admitted he wasn’t expecting it.
“I was as shocked as the rest of the world when I got the call,” he said.
“My journey [here] was a bit of a round trip because Rassie was the person who took me to Munster, and four years later he was also the person to bring me back. It’s a massive honour and an opportunity I could not pass by.”
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Speaking of the difference between making his debut for Ireland and how he feels about Saturday’s match, Kleyn said: “It’s different because this is my home country. It was a great honour to play for Ireland, but growing up I used to watch Bakkies Botha on the field, thinking one day [I could make it].
“Dreams come true, here I am, I didn’t think I’d get the opportunity, things change.”
Kleyn immediately grasped the importance of wearing the green and gold: “Playing for the Springboks comes with a big responsibility. The Boks give hope to a lot of people, so when you wear the jersey, the country’s hopes and dreams rest on your shoulders.”
With his Munster teammate RG Snyman on the bench, Kleyn said if it played out such that they were on the field at the same time it would be a memorable occasion for the close friends.
“It is incredible to have RG here,” he said. “We are great friends and I’ve been learning a lot from him here to get me up to speed with the systems. If it works out that we can play together, it would be a special moment and a new memory.”
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*Predictions must be made before kickoff. pic.twitter.com/1USShG02Ca— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) July 7, 2023
It’s all about altitude and attitude as @mark_keohane and Zels make their picks for the Boks’ Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies. pic.twitter.com/6zosHwNjtk
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) July 6, 2023
Photo: SA Rugby website