Rugby World Cup-winning lock Jean Kleyn was referred to as up on Friday as a Springboks alternative for Ruan Nortje, who suffered a leg damage at coaching on Wednesday, forward of the Check in opposition to Scotland in Edinburgh on Sunday.
The 31-year-old Kleyn, who earned his seventh Check cap for the Springboks within the RWC closing in opposition to New Zealand in France final 12 months, returns to the nationwide crew for the primary time this season after a prolonged spell on the sidelines resulting from an eye fixed damage.
Nortje – who made a robust assertion within the Boks’ engine room this season which noticed him help the crew to the Rugby Championship title – damage his leg throughout Wednesday’s subject coaching session, and with solely three Check matches on this tour, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus opted to draft Kleyn into the travelling squad.
Erasmus stated in an announcement: “It is unhappy to lose Ruan to damage, as he is had a unbelievable season and actually made a robust assertion after accidents initially prompted his call-up to the squad.
“He definitely grabbed the chance with each palms, and we want him luck together with his restoration.”
Erasmus added: “Ruan’s damage opens the door for Jean to make a return to the nationwide squad for the primary time this season, and judging by his performances for Munster since making a comeback to the Vodacom URC, mixed together with his familiarity of our constructions and being a daily in our crew final season, we’re excited to welcome him again.
“He is additionally performed with a lot of the gamers within the squad and is aware of the situations within the UK as he is based mostly in Eire, so he ought to slot in with ease.”
Kleyn’s worldwide expertise, with 5 Check matches to his identify for Eire and 7 for the Springboks in addition to a RWC title, provides precious expertise to the Bok lock shares for the tour, the place he joins the likes of RG Snyman, Franco Mostert and Eben Etzebeth. Erasmus will identify his matchday crew to face Scotland on Friday.
