Springboks Lose Jean Kleyn Ahead of Italy Clash in Pretoria

South Africa’s preparations for the upcoming Test match against Italy suffered a setback as experienced lock Jean Kleyn has been ruled out due to injury. Kleyn picked up the knock during the Springboks’ commanding 54–7 victory over the Barbarians and will return to his club, Munster, to continue his recovery.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed that the injury does not warrant a replacement call-up, citing the squad’s depth in the second row. “We have enough cover and confidence in the group,” Erasmus noted during a press briefing in Pretoria.

The match against Italy is part of the Springboks' warm-up schedule before the 2025 Rugby Championship, with another Test against Georgia on the horizon. Kleyn’s absence opens the door for fringe players to impress, as South Africa looks to fine-tune its combinations.