Eyebrows may have been raised when the Springboks included ex-Ireland international Jean Kleyntheir squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, but ahead of his Springbok debut on Saturday, the Munster lock left no doubt as to where his loyalties lie.
Kleyn has never made it a secret that his first love was to represent the Springboks, but a move to Munster and subsequent selection for the 2019 Rugby World Cup was an opportunity he couldn’t let by.
And even though he highly respects the Irish system and how the country has treated him, it took just one phone call from SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus - the same man who recruited him to the Stormers and took him to Munster - to return to his homeland and take up the offer to become a Springbok.
While some may see that as controversial, Kleyn has never been more honest about the fact he grew up wanting to become a Springbok, and now that it is within touching reach, he is like a kid at Christmas, excited and full of anticipation.
So it wasn’t a surprise when he was asked how the journey to become a Springbok was different to his Irish one that he had a chuckle.
ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A BOK
“It will always be different, it is your home country. Obviously it was a great honour to play for Ireland as well, but I didn’t grow up as a young boy watching Paul O’Connell play and say, geez, I wanted to play in his jersey,” Kleyn answered.
“I was watching Bakkies Botha run around, smashing guys and thinking one day, one day. It is very much - you talk about childhood dreams coming through and that stuff. Here I am, sitting here, never thought I would get the opportunity, but things change… you know.”
The wide-eyed excitement of the URC champion, Munster star has never been more apparent, and while he did only get the call after the URC final from Erasmus, it wasn’t something he was going to think twice about.
“It’s a bit of a round trip - Rassie was the one who took me over in the first place to Munster and now seven years later Rassie was the guy who gave me the call to come back and play here. It was a massive journey, but I don’t regret any part of it. I’ve built a family and a home and community out in Ireland, but you can’t pass up an opportunity like this. It is a massive honour.”
WHY CHOOSE THE BOKS?
A leading question about why come back then, if he was so happy in Ireland, was greeted with an honest answer.
“Why not? Why not come back? It is not every day that you get this chance. There is a very small, select group of players that can play for South Africa, and to be part of such an elite group of rugby players, to have peers - guys sitting next to me, world class rugby players who proved to be the best team in the world in 2019 - and we can hopefully prove it again this year.
To pass up that opportunity, something that big, is something I couldn’t do.”
Kleyn knows the stakes are high and every player in the 41 man squad wants to be one to make the cut into the final 33 for the World Cup.
But despite that there is a relative calm about him. He is happy reaching his childhood dream, and anything else now is a bonus.
ANYTHING TO PROVE?
For that reason he doesn’t believe he needs to prove anything when he makes his debut on Saturday. While there is a driving force, it won’t be him going out to prove a point, rather doing his job for the team he loves.
“Not more than anyone else. I think when you get called up to the Springboks, there is an onus on you. There is a certain responsibility on you to do your country proud and to represent, especially more in South Africa than most other countries.
“The Springboks give hope to a lot of people and to be part of that hope is an incredible honour and a massive responsibility as well. You have to perform because it is not just your hopes and dreams that is resting on Saturday’s result, but it is also your country’s.”
Kleyn admits he was aware that he was eligible to switch countries under the law brought in by World Rugby, but also says he would never have initiated the move.
“I was aware of it, because a lot of my mates said to me ‘why don’t you declare?’ My response was I’m not going to throw my name into the hat, I was never going to initiate it, because I felt like I had made my choice. Look I wasn’t expecting a phone call from Rassie - I was as shocked as the rest of the world was when Rassie rang me. I knew of the rule but I was never planning on going to say ‘listen Rassie, pick me bro.’ When it came by, I couldn’t say no.”
NO EXPECTATIONS
And now, with Loftus looming and the chance to sing the national anthem and play in the jersey he loves, he is content. And he is relishing the prospect.
“I don’t think I have any expectations, I’m just happy to be here. Like I said it is not something that I planned or had massive designs to accomplish over the last two years. For me I’m still probably in a bit of a whirlwind position that I never expected to be here, so now that I am here I’m just delighted and want to contribute.
“I want to give as much as I can. If it happens that I end up in a World Cup squad then fantastic, if not, then still fantastic. If I was able to contribute to South Africa and the Springboks, I would still be happy with my choice.”