Springboks call up Irish-capped lock
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber named a Rugby Championship training squad of 40 players.
Jean Kleyn – who played five Tests for Ireland after qualifying on residency grounds in September 2019, which included participating in the 2019 World Cup – has been called up to the squad as an additional member.
He will join the squad as a 41st member, pending the outcome of an application filed by the South African Rugby Union regarding the former Stormers lock’s eligibility in terms of Regulation 8 and based on birthright.
The decision is expected to be received soon.
The squad, announced on Saturday, features a handful of overseas-based players.
The players will partake in a training camp in Pretoria from Sunday, June 11 until Thursday, June 29.
The additional players that will assemble in the capital are Cheslin Kolbe (wing), Andre Esterhuizen (centre), Handre Pollard (flyhalf), Jasper Wiese (No.8), Jean-Luc du Preez (utility forward), as well as Vincent Koch and Trevor Nyakane (both props).
The squad – with the exception of Nyakane, Koch and Du Preez, all of whom will join the camp later at different stages due to personal and club commitments – will begin their on-field training sessions on Monday.
“It is great that we have been able to invite this group of players to the camp and we are excited to get back onto the field and to switch into international mode completely,” said Nienaber.
“We hosted a string of alignment and preparation camps between February and last week, but this time we have the luxury of working with the domestic and overseas-based players and spending time together as a wider squad daily.
“This will raise the quality of our training sessions as we will again be able to field full teams against one another, while also having a look at a big group of players as we prepare for a challenging Rugby Championship campaign and 2023 season.
“Our medical team will also have more time to work directly with the players nursing injuries and to monitor their progress and rehabilitation as the Test matches draw nearer.”
Nienaber said having the group together for a full three-week period before entering the final week of their preparation for their Rugby Championship opener against Australia at Loftus Versfeld was invaluable, as it offered the squad the opportunity to tick the boxes both mentally and physically before the international season kicks off.
The Boks will begin their 2023 season on Saturday, July 8, with their opening Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies in Pretoria, which will be followed by a Test against New Zealand in Auckland (July 15), before returning to South Africa for their closing match of the abbreviated version of the tournament against Argentina in Johannesburg (July 29).
They will then play three World Cup warm-up matches: against Argentina in Buenos Aires (Saturday, August 5), Wales in Cardiff (Saturday, August 19) and New Zealand in London (Friday, August 25) before departing for the World Cup in France.
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Springbok Rugby Championship training squad:
Props: Thomas du Toit (Sharks), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers), Vincent Koch (Stade Francais), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Retshegofaditswe Nche (Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92).
Hookers: Joseph Dweba (Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Spears), Mbongeni Mbonambi (Sharks).
Locks: Lodewyk de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Marvin Orie (Stormers), Rudolf Snyman (Munster).
Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Verblitz), Siyamthanda Kolisi (Sharks), Evan Roos (Stormers), Albertus Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Duane Vermeulen (Ulster), Jasper Wiese (Leicester).
Utility forwards: Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Deon Fourie (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Heat).
Scrumhalves: Francois de Klerk (Eagles), Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks), Herschel Jantjies (Stormers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Grant Williams (Sharks).
Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester), Damian Willemse (Stormers).
Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins), Jesse Kriel (Eagles).
Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon), Willie le Roux (Verblitz), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Canan Moodie (Bulls).
Springbok fixtures 2023
Rugby Championship
Saturday, 8 July – v Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 15 July – v New Zealand (Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland)
Saturday, 29 July – v Argentina (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
World Cup warm-up fixture
Saturday, 5 August – v Argentina (Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires)
Saturday, 19 August – v Wales (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)
Friday, 25 August – v New Zealand (Twickenham, London)
World Cup pool fixtures
Sunday, 10 September – v Scotland (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)
Sunday, 17 September – v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
Saturday, 23 September – v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)
Sunday, 1 October – v Tonga (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)
Weekend of 14/15 October – quarterfinals
Weekend of 21/22 October – semifinals
Saturday, 28 October – Final
