Munster Rugby player to make Springboks' debut against Australia

MUNSTER Rugby second-row Jean Kleyn will make his Springbok Test debut in their opening Rugby Championship clash against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

South African-born Kleyn made five appearances for Ireland, after qualifying on residency in 2019, including two at the Rugby World Cup in Japan. Kleyn was cleared to play for his native country after World Rugby approved his eligibility.

Kleyn's Munster Rugby clubmate RG Snyman has been named amongst the replacements for Saturday's game which has a 4.05pm kick-off Irish time and is live on Sky Sports Action.

Jean Kleyn has played 136 times since joining Munster in 2016 and is synonymous with the number 4 jersey.  This season he made the most appearances with 24 starts, including 19-successive starts.

Speaking about the opportunity to play with the Springboks last month, the 29-year-old told Munster Rugby.ie, “I have always expressed an interest in playing international rugby and was honoured to represent Ireland in the past.

“When approached I was blown away with this opportunity to be a part of the Springbok squad. I could not pass up on it when it was offered.

“Munster has shaped me as a person and player, it is where I have built a life with my young family but to be offered this opportunity by my home country is an honour I never thought I would receive.

“The last three weeks have been the been the dream here at Munster. To fight through a brutal season and play week in week out, has been a high point of my career. As a team we continued to believe alongside our coaches, and against the odds succeeded.

“There are no guarantees in life but what I do know is that I will give everything to any team I am a part of. It’s all or nothing for me and I look forward to seeing where this journey brings me and look forward to returning to Munster for as long as they will have me. I am here to play and that’s what I am going to do.”

Springbok team to face Australia in Pretoria:

15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 83 caps, 65 pts (13t)
14 – Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 4 caps, 5 pts (1t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 31 caps, 30 pts (6t)
12 – Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins) – 11 caps, 0 pts
11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 7 caps, 35 pts (7t)
10 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 3 caps, 10 pts (5c)
9 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 24 caps, 45 pts (9t)
8 – Duane Vermeulen (captain, Ulster) – 65 caps, 15 pts (3t)
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 66 caps, 25 pts (5t)
6 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 10 caps, 0 pts
5 – Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers) – 11 caps, 0 pts
4 – Jean Kleyn (Munster) – uncapped for SA (Ireland 5 caps)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 58 caps, 5 pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) – 56 caps, 60 pts (12t)
1 – Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks) – 19 caps, 0 pts

Replacements:
16 – Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers) – 4 caps, 0 pts
17 – Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks) – 15 caps, 0 pts
18 – Vincent Koch (Stade Francais) – 41 caps, 0 pts
19 – RG Snyman (Munster) – 23 caps, 5 pts (1t)
20 – Evan Roos (DHL Stormers) – 3 caps, 0 pts
21 – Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) – 5 caps, 0 pts
22 – Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks) – 1 cap, 0 pts
23 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 27 caps, 36 pts (2t, 4c, 4p, 2d)