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Springbok lock to fly back to Ireland after withdrawl from squad
By Ian Cameron
Springbok lock Jean Kleyn has been ruled out of South Africa’s July Test window after sustaining an injury during Saturday’s 54–7 win over the Barbarians in Cape Town.
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The 31-year-old, who started alongside Lood de Jager in the second row, will return to Irish club Munster to begin his recovery and undergo rehabilitation. His withdrawal is a setback to the Springboks’ early-season plans, though head coach Rassie Erasmus said there are no immediate plans to call up a replacement.
“We feel for Jean,” Erasmus said. “But injuries are part of the game, and we are fortunate to have good depth at lock within the squad, so there is no need for us to replace him at this stage.”
Kleyn had a decent first-half showing at the DHL Stadium before a second-row reshuffle at the break and the 6’7, 123kg former Ireland international did not emerge for the second half.
His injury is the first significant casualty of the season for South Africa, who are aiming to build depth across multiple positions ahead of the Rugby Championship.
The Boks travelled to Johannesburg today [Sunday] ahead of their opening Castle Lager Incoming Series clash against Italy, who hammered Namibia in Windhoek on Friday, at Loftus Versfeld on July 5.
They will face the Azzurri again on July 12 in Gqeberha before hosting Georgia a week later in Nelspruit.
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Erasmus says that up to 50 players may feature during this window as part of a broader rotation and conditioning plan for the season.
“We know who is going to play in Italy one and two,” Erasmus said after the Barbarians match. “And certainly by the end of the Georgia game, which will be a grind, we’ll have a group of 45, 50 that have had some game time.”
The Springboks scored eight tries to one in their non-cap opener, despite challenging wet conditions. Jesse Kriel, captaining in the absence of Siya Kolisi, said the side had committed to attacking intent from the outset.
“We came in here to be bold and positive and not let the conditions affect us,” Kriel said. “I thought we looked dangerous when we got the ball into guys like Aphelele Fassi, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe’s hands.”
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Erasmus also used the outing to debut a hybrid forward/back role for Andre Esterhuizen and welcomed back Lood de Jager, who played his first Test-level rugby in over a year.
“It was a satisfying performance,” Erasmus said. “But now the Test matches start next week.”
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