Like a second-row sentinel brought down in mid-scrum, the towering Jean Kleyn has been forced to hobble out of the Springboks' early-season campaign. The Munster lock, who started alongside the hulking Lood de Jager in Saturday’s 54-7 drubbing of the Barbarians, has suffered an untimely injury that will see him return to Ireland’s emerald fields rather than charging through South Africa’s highveld heartlands.
The Cape Town clash, a festival of rugby drenched in drama and drizzle, turned bittersweet for Kleyn, who now faces a stint in the rehab trenches instead of the Test arena. The big man’s exit leaves a dent in the Bok engine room, but not a gaping hole—thanks to Rassie Erasmus’s stockpile of second-row artillery.
We feel for Jean. But injuries are part of this brutal ballet. We’ve got depth at lock, so there’s no need to bring in reinforcements just yet.
The Springboks boarded their flight to Johannesburg on Sunday, leaving the Mother City’s grey skies behind to begin preparations under the bright, dry sun of Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. Their first official Test of 2025 kicks off on 5 July against the unpredictable Azzurri, who will be looking to spring a surprise at altitude.
And while Kleyn watches from afar, one of the Springbok titans is plotting a comeback.
Enter Pieter-Steph du Toit—South Africa’s indomitable utility forward and silent warrior—who, like a refurbished tank, is set to rejoin the battlefield. Having been shelved since November following shoulder surgery, PSDT has shaken off the rust and could return for the second clash against Italy in Gqeberha on 12 July.
Pieter-Steph will probably be ready for Italy 2.
The Boks’ barnstorming start to the season, an eight-try demolition of the Barbarians at a rain-lashed DHL Stadium, was a statement of intent. It was a night when the Springboks played like thunder gods toying with mortals, and debutant Vincent Tshituka wrote his name on the scoresheet with a dazzling double. But Erasmus, the ever-calculating rugby general, refused to be swept away by scoreboard sentimentality.
We won’t get carried away with this performance. The Baabaas only had a few sessions together. This was a celebration, not a benchmark.
Still, sparks of brilliance emerged from the downpour, with line breaks and half-gaps that hinted at untapped attacking potential.
If the weather were drier, I think a few of those passes would’ve stuck. But the boys adjusted well in the second half—toned down the razzle, upped the discipline, and kept the scoreboard ticking.
The Bok coach also revealed that his plans for the Italian series are already well cemented in the team’s playbook.
The guys who are playing against Italy one and two—they’ve known for a while now. We’ve got a core group locked in. And by the time Georgia rolls around, we want 45 to 50 players with game time under their belts.
It’s not just about this July stretch—it’s about shaping a squad with eyes on far horizons. From the heat of Pretoria to the grind in Nelspruit, the Boks are building for a campaign that stretches into the Rugby Championship, where Australia, Argentina, and the All Blacks await like sharks in the surf. And later, in November, a northern tour through France, Italy, Ireland, and Wales will test their mettle on Europe’s cold, muddy battlegrounds.
As the Bok machine gathers pace, injuries may stall a few engines, but the wheels keep turning. With captain Siya Kolisi poised for a return from a stiff neck, and stalwarts like Eben Etzebeth, Willie le Roux, Handré Pollard, and Bongi Mbonambi waiting in the wings, South Africa’s green-and-gold juggernaut remains primed.
For Jean Kleyn, the season has hit a cruel snag. But for the Springboks, the march continues—powerful, precise, and loaded with purpose.
