What a remarkable honor it is to represent my native country,” expressed a jubilant Kleyn following his World Cup victory…
Jean Kleyn expressed his surprise at being chosen to play for South Africa in the 2023 World Cup, as the opportunity seemingly came out of nowhere for him.
Despite initially qualifying to represent Ireland through residency, he had previously played for Ireland in the 2019 World Cup in Japan and the 2020 Six Nations.
However, after that tournament, his standing within the Irish team diminished, and he didn’t add to his five caps. Kleyn’s impressive performance for Munster in the URC earlier this year sparked speculation about his potential return to the Irish squad under coach Andy Farrell. Nevertheless, Farrell decided against it, and in June, Rassie Erasmus reinstated Kleyn to the South African team.
The 30-year-old rejoined the Springboks for the summer’s Rugby Championship, facing familiar rivals such as the All Blacks, Wallabies, and Argentina.
Eventually, he secured a spot in their World Cup squad and played a significant role in their victory, featuring in the full match against Romania, playing 33 minutes against Ireland, and contributing an additional 23 minutes in the triumphant encounter with the All Blacks.
Kleyn, in reflection, described winning a World Cup with South Africa as fulfilling a childhood dream, saying, “It is an incredible thing to be a part of. I don’t think there is a country in the world that puts so much into a World Cup; it means so much to the people.”
He also shared Rassie Erasmus’s perspective on their team’s success: “Rassie [Erasmus] said a few weeks ago, it is a sign of a really good team if you win the matches you are not supposed to win. Last week was definitely a match that we won at the death. I think today we earned it, quarter-finals we earned it. The belief in the team is immense, and I don’t think for one minute we thought we would lose that match,” he affirmed.
Munsterman Jean Kleyn talks to @TommyMartinVM about his journey to becoming a World Cup champion with South Africa pic.twitter.com/fa9IQV0jNB
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 29, 2023
Kleyn, who had contributed to Munster’s victory over his former team, the Stormers, in the URC final in Cape Town back in May, recalled his initial conversation with Rassie Erasmus and expressed that he had no expectations at the outset. Nevertheless, he recognized the opportunity to represent his native country as something too precious to pass up, emphasizing, “I had zero expectations [when first speaking to Rassie], I just thought it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. What a privilege to be able to play for my country of birth. It’s a little boy’s dream.”
Despite not starting any of the Springboks’ knockout matches, Kleyn pointed out the selflessness that characterizes the team, saying, “You buy into the plan… not being selfish about it, that epitomizes this team. We are all here for the same thing.
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