From Ireland to Springboks RWC Glory | The Rugby Pod with Jean Kleyn

Munster lock Jean Kleyn, represented Ireland at the 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifying on residency grounds however due to a lengthy period left unselected in the international wilderness, JK was cleared to switch allegiance back to his native South Africa going on to eventually win the 2023 RWC with the Springboks.
The lads discuss the switch, his success at Munster and what happened at the Springbok RWC Celebratory night (week) out 👀
Listen to the full Podcast on Spotify 🎧 spoti.fi/3RtJVUb
0:00 Switching Allegiances
12:30 Bomb Squad Uncovered
20:00 Springbok Seven Nations
24:00 Munster O'Rowntree

[@janevanreenen8768]

Healthiest team environment ever… but it shows in the way they play, both on and off the field 💪🏽🇿🇦💪🏻

[@mwezimacingwane6554]

Living CJ Stander's dream. What a Year He's had, URC and World Cup!!!! Capped for emerald Green and The Green and Gold!!! WOW!!!!

[@ruairiosullivan3763]

Absolute great interview. JK has become a legend as the first Irish capped player to win the RWC. (Leinster supporter here but loved this interview)

[@rickyv2844]

Felix Jones Irish former capped player has two gold with the Boks as assistant coach

[@rickyv2844]

Fun fact even Eddie Jones sit with a gold medal by being part of the 2007 Jake White back room coaching staff as a Aussie

[@rickyv2844]

Go to the Boks and u will get a gold medal it seems… lol 😂

[@Mimeniia]

Definitely Irish Hall of Fame material.

[@ChiefTheo]

He’s not Irish

[@daverogers2240]

I am a Springbok supporter. I have been following you guys for a long time. This was an excellent interview. The way you guys got JK to talk about how things happen behind the scenes was excellent. You should do this more often. Terrific interview. Well done.

[@SeanLarkan]

Great bloke, balanced, modest, gives credit, sets a great example; these sorts of fellows make rugby the great game it is & will always be; nice work to you Pod boys!

[@mrange20]

One of the greatest interviews i have ever seen. Well done gents.

[@kellyrobbins8255]

JK - forever a Bok legend and we'll always have a special affinity with Munster for their unwavering support for so many of our Boks. I don't feel like comparing this squad to the 2015 ABs. I don't feel like evaluating them player by player or on an individual basis. This kind of team environment is tough to create when people are similar. As a Springbok supporter, I noticed it. We all did. Whether or not other people think this is the GOAT team, they'll always be our immortals. The most beloved group of Boks to ever don the Green and Gold. Best of luck, JK - and thank you.

[@davidpeters3857]

It isn’t

[@kellyrobbins8255]

The reaction by the SA public backs me up@@davidpeters3857. They're special to South Africans, irrespective of what the rest of the world may think.

[@ashBB2407]

​@davidpeters3857 Well maybe they are This Bok team is better than the 2015 Bok team that only just lost to that 2015 AB team in semi finals. So this Biok team may have beaten that AB team by 1pt 😉

[@SA_PASF]

Far from being a bok legend, needs 50-80 caps to qualify to be a legend

[@JouNaai1448]

I've never heard him speak before, didn't realise he had such a weird accident. Lots of Irish sounding words in there

[@jadenphilander8799]

He is Afrikaans

[@wot4922]

Maybe you meant accent. He left SA as an adult. It's only children that take on the accent of their surroundings. Jean sounds Afrikaans to me. 💚💛🇿🇦

[@IrishInsomniac76]

If you have never moved to another country as an adult you would never understand how your accent and vocabulary changes. I'm Irish living in Canada for 17 years so I know how it goes

[@MoerseBokbaas1]

😂what a name 😂jeez

[@ciaranbrk]

​@@wot4922not true you adopt local grammar slang terms he has been in Ireland since 2016

[@craigmorgan4676]

Class interview, class act and just what a story, incredible! 👇 BOKKE FOR LIFE 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🏈🏈🏈🏈🏆🏆🏆🏆💯💯💯💯

[@johannblignaut1966]

Such a nice interview.Thanks gents.Go well Jean.

[@toscabrutus1781]

Uitstkende Program! Ek dink Jean Kleyn en interviewers is uitstkend!

[@MyCousin82]

congrats JK! I remember when you were leaving the Stormers I was secretly hoping you'd come to the Lions in Joburg (your hometown after all! :-) ) But you were destined for bigger things! Incredibly proud of you Meneer

[@deonfourie9951]

Love rugby pod. Such unbiased appreciation for rugby of all teams.

[@stephenlouwbiokineticist4127]

I am so happy for you sir. A fairytale.

[@DonovanBanks]

I don’t know any South African fans who want us to join the 6N. The time zone doesn’t hurt us too much and the NZ & Aus rivalry is fantastic.

[@waliedbart7506]

We not from the northern hemisphere

[@brendonjennings3934]

Seems like a very decent bloke - congratulations!

[@gerrycallaghan5519]

Well done.. Delighted for him

[@UglyKidJoe71]

What a gentleman he is 👏respect

[@daucreates]

Sounds so irish when he says ‘class’, ‘look’, and ‘like’ at the end if a sentence haha

[@AjithSoysa-qh7jg]

We are the champion my friend. 4th most successful rugby nation. Springsboks. My loving team.forever. boys have done a wonderful job.great

[@Johan10683]

Wayne Barnes on reffing Andy Goode - at one point Wayne said that it sounded like there were 15 refs on the field; Andy - yeah, and you're not in the top 10 🤣🤣🤣

[@rikuslotriet221]

Legend ❤

[@mikewillemse3761]

well done .... get JK back and ask him a few viewer questions ... would love the oppertuinity. What a great sports man and one we could look up to .... URC and WC medals in the same year only RG can bragg as well

[@business3867]

As a South African this guy sounds Irish 😂

[@bravestarr1797]

His accent is transitioning to Irish there's a few words when he said it, the way he said it that caught me off guard 😂

[@DonovanBanks]

Now can you imagine how Duhan will sound in 3 years. 😂

[@TheLinzitoPodcast]

Irish wife, 8 years in Ireland, he is bound to sound Irish

[@razeenmeyer9728]

There's an unspoken, behind the scenes Irish and South African cooperation in rugby business, I've noticed.

[@avishjhugroo2473]

He went from being a choker to now doing the choking 😂😂😂

[@kristian762]

Hold up. Did JK say PSDT was covering wing!? Madness 😂😂🍻

[@TheLinzitoPodcast]

Covered for Kolbe in the final 9 minutes of the final

[@xylemrays671]

Jirre, this ou’s accent is a wild ride! “Laaf”, “cluus”😂

[@seamus9750]

He'll have some stories to tell his grandkids...didn't know too much about him prior to his inclusion in the Bokke.

[@johnmartin7370]

Great story, great guy, can JK now play for either and both teams?

[@rohp1283]

Once 'n boer always 'n boer. Go Bokke.

[@thembelanihdlamini5395]

South Africa is in such a unique position to play in the north and south. I don't think the 6 nations will be a good move. The teams are weak and we do not have that history with them. Our competition is NZ who have won more than 60% of the games we've played. No team in Europe has that advantage over us, so joining the 6 nations will just be helping the northern hemisphere teams.

[@aidanmarten9764]

Hey 👋 no mention about Andy rowe i thought he had one more podcast before heading off ?😮 did i miss something ? Always thought he added alot to the show 🤔.

[@daveerasmus4292]

well spoken

[@mohatomakalima1220]

JK is picking up an Irish accent a biy😂

[@yermanoffthetelly]

14:36 "I'd be laughed outavith like" definitely a Munster twang there. 😄

[@melthenning9140]

Great interview 👍

[@alwynkotze9891]

John! I know it's not John, it's John! Haha

[@markwillies7666]

Well he's not the only one. I do agree one country or bust.

[@izakbisschoff8712]

Jim, bit disappointed. So many obvious questions weren’t asked. Comparing strategies, outlook, attitudes, team environment and fitness levels between Ireland and SA. What did the Boks consider as their biggest potential hurdle or threat? Why were the Boks successful and others not, what are the Boks biggest strengths and the role fatigue played in team selection for the final. Do you expect the Bomb squad to remain a South African phenomenon? Enjoy your show.

[@deonfourie9951]

I do think though, that six nations must remain northern hemisphere, and championship must remain southern hemisphere. The time zone convenience is great, but from a South African point of view, they’ve been relieved of a lot of traveling by being part of URC. There is a North vs South rivalry that must remain. Not to mention, that South Africa contributes enormously financially to SANZAR. All those teams need South Africa, as South Africa needs them. If New Zealand’s only competition is Australia, and the pacific islands, they aren’t likely to remain so dominant. And world rugby needs New Zealand. (from a South African)

[@nickybutt9733]

Big Jim looking gorgeous but good god he knows it

[@Johan-rg3vo]

Lol he's no brad pitt

[@gazza2232]

15:42 💀

[@JeffreyThomas-th2ps]

Im sure he will be there at 2027

[@MoerseBokbaas1]

Interesting 😮Boer Accent 😊...Tiaan Strauss Aussie Accent was also interesting. The only other Boer accent that never chance was CJ Stander .The saffa eng speakers dont change look at Catt ,barrit etc .Even Cheslin Kolbe accent change a bit from being between Nzlandrs in France ..Schoeman made up an accent ,duhan vmerwe still pure Boer .....

[@davidpeters3857]

🥱

[@SchmozzleGTO]

Goodie needs to lay off the refs... Faz bowing out for bullying is a proper statement- its him saying 'ENOUGH' imo. Calling everyone out, because its what is right for him n his fam but also, I bet, as a message to fans, media etc. There needs to be a line. And Goodie crosses it often attacking refs- we dont have a game without them and Goodie, media etc. must do better. Attack the suits of World Rugby but seriously, we need to give refs and players space and all calm down. For incredible Faz to step back, and Barnes, both citing b.s. is a broad indictment of fans, pundits etc. And Im Irish, standard position is Barnes has screwed us forever and in theory shouldnt care about Faz... But I do, and all of this matters... lookn at you Goodie (go be a ref or leave it out). Rugby used to be better than this.

[@hopeaguero7460]

You see that Ireland relaying on players from other counties they study your game and on RWC they play for their countries and beat you up for that reason alone you’ll never win RWC.

[@KekeHimona]

Ireland are more than capable of winning a RWC. Bit arrogant to even consider they aren’t

[@Johan-rg3vo]

I think Ireland beat the Boks in the wc

[@KekeHimona]

@@Johan-rg3vo And Ireland will beat the “2023 World Champs” more as well…great team

[@mitch2924]

And there still clowns out there believing he wasn’t good enough to make the Irish team. The Irish team were never good enough to have a such a talent.

[@business3867]

Relax, he is good but not unplayable and the Irish had good locks.

[@will1964]

Has to be a South African comment. Ireland have world class locks too there was only so many they could bring they did the right thing by him and left the door open for him instead of just picking him to stop him going to SA. Irish clubs have stood by numerous Boks players who have had serious injuries when they didn’t have too.

[@mitch2924]

The Irish have good looks but not world class.

[@claytonsaville]

Absolutely useless dogs I feel you man!

[@DM-em4mi]

Lovely guy but it's just wrong. It's a disgrace that he was allowed/chose to represent Ireland and an even bigger disgrace he was allowed to go and represent a different country having already nailed his colors to the mast. World rugby is a joke. It's not club rugby!

[@shaunbentham7361]

He is a world champion now, none of the Irish players are! 😂

[@DM-em4mi]

@@shaunbentham7361 yes? What's your point?

[@frontierlandfrank5314]

@@DM-em4milmao cry less

[@notenoughstones3873]

Considering how many South Africans have represented (and still are representing) other countries over the years, I hardly think it’s a disgrace that only one has come back to represent the country of his birth. South Africans are still 20+ in the negative when it comes to their players representing other nations. Also Andy Farrell made it clear he was never going to be selected for Ireland again so why would you want to stop him from playing international rugby again? He never purposely stated his availability for SA out of respect for Ireland and also took a huge risk playing for them knowing he could lose his contract with Munster because he would no longer be Irish qualified. In his mind, his international career was already over. Out of all the players changing countries, his is hardly the most egregious. He grew up in SA and began his professional career there too so hardly similar to someone who had a tangential link like grandparent in a different country or something similar. Anyway WR have already changed their eligibility period from 2024 to 5 years (up from 3 years) which will significantly limit the amount chopping and changing taking place.

[@Johan-rg3vo]

​@@shaunbentham7361Felix Jones is a wc 🏆

[@SA_PASF]

Traitor