Rowntree 'very happy' with Kleyn plan amid reports on seriousness of eye injury 

ON TRACK: Jean Kleyn of Munster is likely to return this summer, if not the early autumn. Pic: David Fitzgerald, Sportsfile

Graham Rowntree has moved to clarify Jean Kleyn’s fitness status after reports the South Africa lock’s season-ending eye injury was worse than first thought.

Kleyn, who was capped by the Springboks off the back of a strong campaign in Munster’s URC title-winning team last summer and added a World Cup winner’s medal to his league success in 2023, sustained the injury on his seasonal debut against Leinster last November 25.

The 30-year-old was ruled out for the remainder of the season in January when Munster announced that due to his slow recovery from the eye issue, he would undergo knee surgery.

Reports surfaced this weekend that the initial problem was more serious than first understood but speaking from Cape Town on Tuesday, where Munster are preparing to face the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday, head coach Rowntree said: “There has been a bit said about Jean Kleyn’s eye injury.

“He has been to America and we are very happy with the plan for him going forward. He will be available for the start of next season.” 

Asked if the start of next season meant being involved this summer for South Africa against Ireland, or later on in the Rugby Championship, Rowntree said: “It could, it could be, yeah. I never thought about that. Crikey, thanks for reminding me.

“There was a bit of confusion in the Irish media that his eye injury may be worse than suggested, but no, he has seen a specialist in America, and he and we are very happy with the plan going forward.

“He will be available for next season. When that next season starts, I can’t tell you exactly.” 

Munster have gone down to Cape Town between their assignments at altitude, having kicked off their South African tour last Saturday with a historic first win over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. 

The 27-22 bonus-point victory lifted Rowntree’s men above the Bulls into third place in the URC standings with four games of the regular season remaining and the Munster boss said: “It was an outstanding result, we stuck to our plan to nullify their threats.” The Lions, he added, would pose similar threats.

“You have got to be good at the same things again. You’ve got to match a big set-piece to deny them access.

“These are particularly good at the defensive breakdown. They will go for most breakdowns in terms of poaching the ball, as dangerous as the Bulls in terms of counter-attack and transition.” 

As to the decision to base the squad in Cape Town, Rowntree said memories of last May’s URC Grand Final victory over the Stormers had played a part in the detour.

“It’s a special home for us. We have been here before, it’s an impressive hotel in Cape Town. We have two games played up at altitude but we purposely come down here because we know they have got outstanding recovery facilities here as well.

“Guys can get out into the area, and it’s a perfect time to get the group together, 24 hours a day, get to know each other, get connected, I think is the current vernacular.

“And we just like the place. We have got fond memories. The last time we were here we won the final, so it was a bit of a no-brainer to come down and give the lads a bit of a break. We will go back up to Jo’burg on Friday.”