THE JOKES HAVE been unavoidable. The ones about an Ireland international playing in a World Cup final.
There is an Irishman with a World Cup winner’s medal already and he’s part of the Springboks set-up too. Assistant coach Felix Jones helped them to their 2019 victory and hopes to conclude his time with the South Africans with a second medal tomorrow night.
Technically speaking, Jean Kleyn will indeed become the first Ireland international to actually play in a World Cup final, albeit for South Africa.
The Munster lock has been on a whirlwind journey this year. Kleyn and his wife had their first child in February, having just built their home in Limerick. He helped Munster to break their trophy drought in May and then would have hoped Andy Farrell finally called him up to his Ireland squad.
It wasn’t to be, but Kleyn’s World Cup ambitions didn’t end there. Instead, it was Rassie Erasmus who gave him a shout and invited him into the Springboks set-up. Kleyn didn’t think twice and launched the second chapter of his Test career thanks to World Rugby’s eligibility laws allowing him to switch allegiance to his native land.
Kleyn has taken his chance since accepting Erasmus’ offer and he already has one cap more than he earned for Ireland. Now, he is on the brink of earning a World Cup winner’s medal, having been named as part of the Springboks’ 7/1 bench split against New Zealand tomorrow.
It’s remarkable stuff for a player who didn’t even see a career in professional rugby for himself when he was in his late teens. He wasn’t on the radar at all but forced his way into the pro game through his gritty performances at Stellenbosch University.
Even by the time he was playing for Western Province, he was still self-admittedly raw and had poor handling skills, but he was a big brute of an enforcer. Erasmus watched him breaking through and when he moved to Munster, he convinced Kleyn to switch to Irish rugby too.
As it transpired, Erasmus was Kleyn’s head coach only for a few months before departing back home for the Springboks job.
With a long queue of excellent locks ahead of him in South Africa, the prospect of being a ‘project player’ in Ireland was alluring and Kleyn duly served his three-year residency period before being included in Ireland’s 2019 World Cup squad. His selection drew lots of criticism from supporters and media, in large part because the popular Devin Toner had been left out of the squad.
While it was a proud achievement for Kleyn to be involved, it was also a tough time for him as he received lots of social media abuse. He had very mixed feelings about that campaign, which was a disappointing one for Ireland collectively.
Andy Farrell took over from Joe Schmidt after the World Cup and he has never included Kleyn in a squad since. The Munster lock’s form was consistent but it wasn’t until the last two seasons that the calls for him to be included really became prominent. Kleyn was arguably Munster’s player of the season as they won the URC in May.
Farrell and Ireland forwards coach Paul O’Connell continued to prefer other options, with their frontline trio of locks – James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, and Iain Henderson – supplemented Joe McCarthy and Kieran Treadwell in this summer’s World Cup training squad, while Ryan Baird also has second row experience even if he wasn’t used there in this campaign.
Treadwell was eventually cut from the squad as Farrell settled on his final World Cup selection, but many Munster fans felt Ireland were missing a trick by opting against including Kleyn.
Erasmus clearly felt the same. He never could have imagined that he’d be able to call Kleyn up after watching him debut for Ireland in 2019. In fact, SA Rugby voted against the change in eligibility law that allowed him to do so in the end.
Erasmus had known Kleyn for well over a decade, had signed him for Munster, and now saw an opening for him in the Boks squad. Even in a country that produces lots of big, tough second rows, Erasmus felt his group needed another traditional tighthead lock like Kleyn, all the more so because he was hatching his 7/1 bench plan.
Kleyn was one of the seven forwards when the Boks first unveiled it before the World Cup, he featured as part of the same bench split against Ireland in the pool stages, and now he’s involved for the final against the All Blacks.
Tomorrow, Kleyn hopes to cap this remarkable adventure with a World Cup winner’s medal, something that seemed impossible to him only a few months ago.
Kleyn is contracted to Munster until the end of this season and it remains to be seen if his status as a non-Irish-qualified player has any implications to the province’s presumable desire to re-contract him given that he has been such a key player.
Alongside him on the bench tomorrow will be fellow Munster man RG Snyman, capping his journey from the depths of injury despair, and they will have plenty of support from Ireland.
Zebo is class.
King Zeebs
I remember seeing him early on in his career and thinking here was a player that Munster don’t normally produce. He was all skill on the pitch and he was brave enough to take on players and back himself. Since then he has gone through something similar as Earls. He has had to beef up and learn how to defend. Doing this without losing what made you special in the first place can be difficult but, if achieved, you can become a fantastic player. I dont know if he is there yet but he is on his way.
He’s well able to defend and no need for the beefing…
The best back three player Ireland have. He’s still got it when it comes to unexpected moments of skill (that don’t just look nice, but often lead to tries), but he’s improved so much when it comes to defence, he’s already made several try saving tackles, that he looks such a complete player now. He’s really growing into the fullback jersey, while he does all the things that one expects of a fullback, he’s putting his own spin on things there, often coming flat and becoming a key playmaker in attack. Has a cannon of a left boot, and gets a serious fizz on his passes. Zebo has come in for a ridiculous amount of stick over the years, probably one of the most unfairly criticised players in recent years imo, but he’s risen above it all and made himself into a serious player.
@Thomas Moroney: *He’s already made several try saving tackles this season.
Thomas, there are no negative comments on this article about Zebo and there haven’t been for along time. It’s a pity the same thing can’t be said about another player (J.Heaslip) that’s unfairly targeted in every article he’s mentioned in.
Oh come on Gary, plenty of anti cj posts too.. Let’s not start a provincial back and forth about who’s best players are not rated by the other side
@Gary: Just because he hasn’t gotten as much in recent times doesn’t mean that the sheer volume of vitriol directed at him never happened. I’m not denying that Heaslip has come in for a lot of (unfair imo) stick over the past while, but Zebo has gotten it pretty thick. It’s not even a wholly provincial thing, he seemed to rub some of the Munster fans the wrong way too.
@Thomas Moroney: I think the Zebo we see now is far better rounded player. There were times perhaps two years ago when his positioning and tackling were weaknesses in his game. However, he has vastly improved in both these aspects of his game. He was arguably the winning of the game for us against Australia in the Autumn off the back of his defence.
@PScald: any anti CJ posts are trolls, he is well liked by real rugby fans in Leinster. Heaslip is unfairly targeted by people who think they’re making a good point.
PScald, the only negativity CJ gets is form Airliss Loveliss (or something like that) and we all know he secretly fancies CJ.
Thomas, the difference is a while back when Zebo didn’t have the defence he has now, he was getting a fair bit of negativity just like the way Kearney is now. Zebo is now on fire and the negativity has stopped. Kearney is way off form and most Leinster fans including myself have said Kearney shouldn’t be at 15. Heaslip has never left the side down and has been constantly good but he still gets vitriolic comments posted. (It’s not provincial bs it’s just an observation.)
@Gary: Gary, I don’t think you understand, I’m not having a go at Kearney or Heaslip. Zebo may not have been in the form he was now forever and always, but he has been a serious player for a long time now, and it’s only now I feel that people are beginning to recognise it. I genuinely read someone only a few months ago claim that the only good thing that he’d done in his career was the heel flick against Wales. A lot of the stuff that gets used against players is nonsense, both Heaslip and Zebo get criticised for things like mannerisms and how they dress (admittedly I don’t like watching Heaslip’s interviews, but I don’t let it undermine my view of him as a hugely dependable servant on the field for Ireland). Kearney is in my view, out of form for quite a while, and it’s pointless pretending that his form is what gets him starts for Ireland at this stage. I don’t hate the guy, he’s contributed so much to Irish rugby and was on of the best fullbacks in the world once, I just think he needs a break from the Irish jersey and a chance to sort himself out at Leinster, it’s for his own good. The criticism that certain players get is, I feel, utterly unfair. Kearney and Heaslip have gotten their fair share in recent times, but while Zebo is getting praise now I feel that he’s gotten a huge amount of unmerited hatred, and the recent change of opinions doesn’t make that go away. I’m not saying that what others like Heaslip and Kearney get is okay, I’m merely stating that Zebo hasn’t been treated fairly until now.
The Kearney one is really interesting. He had a bad season last season, but after the way he played in Chicago and then on his return for Leinster before going off injured, it’s very difficult to question the guy’s form. People seem to have just written him off and cite form so it doesn’t sound personal.
I certainly haven’t written Kearney off. If he were to continue to improve and come any where near his best, I’d be as eager to have him starting for Ireland as anyone else. But I don’t feel he’s there yet, I still feel that the alternatives to him at full back (Payne, Zebo, TOH) all have form sheets that stack up better than his. He still has plenty of time to change that, hopefully we will see continued improvement. I have nothing personal against him, nor do I for any player who has represented Ireland.
@Conor Paddington: Kearney may have done a lot well in Chicago but was still at fault for two tries. The fact remains regardless of form that he’s a poor one on one tackler and an ineffective counter attacker. He is certainly improving on his performances last season and remains a decent player who can operate at international level but it certainly doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t desire to move him on for a more well rounded option at fullback.
On Heaslip I would have been critical in the past. But over the last 2 years he is one of the most consistent work horses for Ireland. His tackle count, ruck clear outs, first up carries will be missed when he retires. As a Munster fan, I used to shudder at the thought of Zebo at fullback. Poor positioning and not the strongest tackler. He has worked hard at that and I would argue he is one of the most improved players. Long may his form continue;:)
Well Martin, there’s a few things other than form that often get players selected for tests. Schmidt may favor him due to how dependable he was in the past, or he may feel that his attributes fit into the game plan better than the others. I’m not sure as to the veracity of the latter possibility, but if it works, I won’t complain. I still feel that the alternatives offer more though.
Kearney is fine if you want to play a containing game. Solid under the high ball, sound boot, nothing too elaborate in attack. Simple yet effective. Zebo is also excellent under the high ball, a cannon of a left boot, but is a far superior open field runner, far more prolific try scorer, far better distributor. Yes his game is far more risk/reward than Kearney, but in my opinion a flashy player in a team that doesn’t give up too much anyway is a welcome threat. It boils down to the type of game you want to play.
That jump though.
It’s called “flashy”.
A more approriate word is called ‘brilliance’.
I can never understand why any article about Zeno attracts more trolls and negativity than any other
He is proving to be a valuable player with a little more spark than the auld reliables
That is what Ireland have been lacking the last year or two. The fact that he is growing aware of when to use his “flashiness” and when to stick to the protocols is encouraging and bodes well for the player.
I think a lot of people here form opinions and then are loath to change them.
It’s a good job our coaches give people a second chance…
Flashy is good. Entertainment in sport is good.
Absolutely fair point. The kearneys get dog abuse too. Really can’t understand it
Kearney’s form or lack of came down to him changing his style of rugby from having the ability to counter attack and kick long and accurate to run into the first player who wanted to tackle him. This was a moc tactic to allow Kearney’s team mates to know where the first tuck was going to be.
He was never a good last man defender never ever.
He has attributes that made him a top class international full back a few years ago and if he goes back to that style of rugby ( as he is showing signs off) then he has lots to offer both Ireland and Leinster.
He is not just a favourite of joes. He’s a favourite of every coach he’s ever played for maybe apart from gatland.
It bugs me that when ever any player gets praise on here ( Zebo’s well deserved turn today ) that we have to abuse another player to make a point.
Because Zebo is a fantastic back 3 player that doesn’t mean someone else playing for a different team is crap.
Pro 12 is like 3rd division football?
That comment is Sunday league so
@Adrianholland: What’s 3rd division football?
What’s this football thing of which you speak?
There is no doubting the class that Zebo possesses but in years gone by he was also a liability with his poor defence.
Has kept his off the cuff attack and improved his tackling beyond all recognition.
Now a first 15 player having progressed from a decent squad player.
As for Heathslip I really don’t care what attitude he has off the pitch or how he is arrogant or whatever I only concern myself with how he performs and on that point he is still more than worth his place
Gary and Conor, fair point regards cj..
However this garbage about zebo defence and tackling is just that.. he has always been a solid defender. The issue was his rucking and the coaches preference for Kearney. Let’s not kid ourselves here. No one selects zebo for his defence. It’s what he offers going forward with ball in hand. I think it more than a little disingenuous to suggest “now that he sorted the flaw we saw in his game he’s great”
Kearney still can’t tackle his way out of a paper bag and still gets selected ahead of him as recently as last month with no form to speak of..
Happy Christmas to you all by the way… Hope it’s a lovely time for you and your family’s.
Martin, first merry Christmas.. secondly lets remember he only started the November internationals because of injury to Kearney. Now all of a sudden on the back of a game and a bit he is the “full package”?
Get up the garden…. what he did was prove again his ability. He’s been an try scoring international since 2013 on the wing and at full back.
Joe isn’t the messiah, he a bloody good rugby coach who’s made mistakes and will continue to make mistakes as he’s only human.. ending your points with “well JS is the coach and that’s that” doesn’t validate your opinion. Quite the opposite in fact..
Oh and to answer your question, why did joe tell Kearney he needed a big one today before the all blacks match? Because he knew he had no form and was picking him because of loyalty.. it happens all the time with coaches. They have their favourites. He picked him because of his body of work.
Good man Martin, tis great to have the young ones around even if it means a silly o clock start to the day.. All the best bud