Munster defence coach JP Ferreira admits he was surprised to see Jean Kleyn make the Ireland squad for the Rugby World Cup but says the South African-born lock is being rewarded for his hard work with the province.

This time four years ago, Mike Ross was trying to figure out how to impress his fellow World Cup squad members.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned through Trump and Brexit and any number of other modern misadventures then it must be the depressing truth that facts and logic come a distant second to raw emotion and an indignant sense of righteousness.

Agustin Pichot’s ears must have been burning yesterday at lunchtime as Joe Schmidt responded to the Argentine’s criticism of the decision to select a project player ahead of Devin Toner in Ireland’s World Cup squad.

In the same way that we shouldn’t have been too crestfallen by the heavy defeat in Twickenham, Ireland’s confidence-boosting win against Wales in Cardiff last weekend also needs to be put into context.

Pichot's take on the decision, aired via Twitter on Monday, follows on from his assertion last week that the world rankings were “ridiculous” given Warren Gatland's Wales had usurped New Zealand as No.1 despite never having beaten the All Blacks.

So now the real work begins. The debates over squad selection are over, at least inside the Irish camp, and now comes the business end of Joe Schmidt’s preparations for Japan and the 2019 World Cup.

Jean Kleyn: No matter what Agustin Pichot thinks, the South African-born Munster lock has qualified by right and earned his place the hard way after three years of acclimatisation in Limerick.

Malcolm O’Kelly has told Devin Toner not to switch off after he was sensationally left out of Joe Schmidt’s 31 man Rugby World Cup squad.

In another unexpected move, head coach Schmidt preferred Luke McGrath as his back-up scrum-half over Conor Murray’s long-standing number two Kieran Marmion.

Devin Toner is expected to be a shock omission from Ireland’s 31-man World Cup squad.

Fifteen minutes after hanging up, Allister Coetzee rings back, eager to share one last thought.

Fly-half Byrne gets the chance of a lifetime in the absence of both Johnny Sexton and Joey Carbery with a first Ireland start in just his third Test.

Joe Schmidt has called on Ross Byrne to make the most of his opportunity and stake a claim to a place in Ireland’s World Cup squad after handing the fly-half his first Test start against England at Twickenham on Saturday.

In a sense, Jean Kleyn completed his journey with a Test debut for Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, but the Munster lock is determined to stay forward-focused as he aims for a place in his adopted country’s World Cup squad next month.

During this year’s Six Nations, the vast majority of the players on show last Saturday were either watching from the bench, the stands or from the comfort of their couches.

Simon Lewis Tadhg Beirne’s role as a potential replacement flanker against Italy at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon underlines how this game is just as important for the bench as it is for Ireland’s starters.

Munster lock Jean Kleyn has been handed a Test debut for Ireland and a chance to stake his claim for a World Cup squad berth as Joe Schmidt’s side play the first of four warm-up matches against Italy in Dublin on Saturday.

Ultan Dillane and Rory Scannell became the first players to be jettisoned from Ireland’s World Cup planning as Joe Schmidt’s training squad was trimmed ahead of Saturday’s opening summer Test against Italy.

Word was that Jean Kleyn kept his eyes open and his mouth mostly shut during his early days in Joe Schmidt’s World Cup warm-up camp.

Jean Kleyn is convinced Munster can use their European semi-final defeat to Saracens as a springboard to Guinness PRO14 silverware this season.

Tyler Bleyendaal remains on course to start as Munster’s fly-half in this Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup semi-final against Saracens after Johann van Graan revealed that Joey Carbery remains highly unlikely of playing.

Johann van Graan believes some of his frontline stars have earned a well-earned break after helping Munster secure a Guinness PRO14 play-off berth with a thumping 45-21 win over Cardiff Blues in Cork on Friday.

Wipe the slate clean and move on to the next job. That is the way Johann van Graan, like many head coaches, operates but as his Munster side transitions into this European knockout rugby week, his mantra of forgetting the past and resetting to zero on a Monday has never seemed so apt.

Johann van Graan’s glass remained half-full as he argued Munster are still very much in Guinness PRO14 title contention despite defeat to the Scarlets in Llanelli.

Munster head coach Johann van Graan reserved special praise for his young players and the experience of scrum-half Alby Mathewson after his team survived a big scare in Newport.

Jean Kleyn is adamant Munster can hit the ground running in Europe when they open the new Heineken Champions Cup campaign at Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.

Peter O’Mahony feels a fit and in-form Jean Kleyn could be a serious weapon for Joe Schmidt’s Ireland in the years to come.

Munster forwards Jean Kleyn and Rhys Marshall will undergo operations this summer, while Jack O'Donoghue is set for a scan on his knee injury.

Leinster 16 Munster 15: Leo Cullen’s relief was tangible as he assessed this narrow Guinness PRO14 semi-final victory over Munster.

Johann van Graan is hoping he will be able to call on reinforcements for Munster’s Guinness PRO14 semi-final at Leinster in 12 days with the return of key players from injury.

Southern Kings 22 Munster 39: There was a carnival atmosphere at Outeniqua Park on Saturday and while it seemed for a time that the Southern Kings were going to spoil CJ Stander’s homecoming, Munster’s superiority shone through in the end as they cantered home.

A group of Irish people in Australia are accused of being behind a series of scams across the Gold Coast.

It took a back-to-basics approach for Munster to rebound from their Cardiff Blues no-show to get the show on the road again last weekend and Jean Kleyn believes the squad will be similarly focused ahead of tomorrow’s tricky league trip to Edinburgh.

Munster 33 Zebre 5: Munster coach Johann van Graan accurately summed up the view of the majority of Saturday night’s sparse Thomond Park attendance when he commented that “this won’t go down as the greatest game in the history of Munster”.

Jean Kleyn paid tribute to Munster’s togetherness after the province emerged from a week of controversy off the field to book a place in the Champions Cup quarter-finals.

Munster’s South African lock Jean Kleyn has revealed his desire to represent Ireland at Test level.

Munster left Paris last night disappointed at the lost opportunity to secure a place in the last eight but knowing their Champions Cup destiny is still in their own hands.

Munster have received a welcome boost ahead of Sunday’s Champions Cup opener at Castres with Rassie Erasmus giving positive fitness updates on Jean Kleyn and Simon Zebo.

Munster’s quick fixes

As if presiding over a performance Rassie Erasmus yesterday described as the “worst” of his Munster tenure was not painful enough, last Friday’s heavy defeat has further depleted the province’s second-row stocks.

Billy Holland may be the senior partner in the Munster second row these days but he is perfectly happy to let fellow lock Jean Kleyn steal the limelight as they perform their separate roles, South African style.

In the end the margin of victory was just five points, but Munster were the dominant force at the Liberty Stadium as they made it three straight Guinness Pro14 wins.