How a Rassie phonecall changed Kleyn's life again 

The 29-year-old only played twice for the Springboks, he was able to take his opportunity to shine to the fullest, impressing with his physicality and work-rate in the team’s two best performances this year.

South Africa's lock Jean Kleyn (C) receives a cap from Mark Alexander (C-L), South African Rugby Union (SARU) president, (C-L) during the South Africa Rugby World Cup squad announcement in Johannesburg on August 8, 2023. Pic: PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images

South Africa’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus is known for his ability to make a sale, but two phone calls from the former Munster head have been enough to change the life of Jean Kleyn, who now stands poised to become one of the first players to represent two different countries at a Rugby World Cup.

In 2016, Erasmus had just joined Munster as director of rugby when he phoned Kleyn, who had been a talented, if injury-prone, up-and-coming star for the Stormers, and headhunted the physical lock for the Irish province. The former Springbok flank had been the head of the Stormers team while Kleyn was coming through the ranks.