Springbok Lock Kleyn Ruled Out Italy Series Due Injury

South Africa's lock Jean Kleyn has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against Italy and Georgia due to an injury sustained during their recent 54-7 win over the Barbarians. Kleyn will return to his Irish club Munster for rehabilitation, with Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus confirming that the team has sufficient depth at lock and will not replace him in the squad. The Springboks are preparing for their first Test of the season against Italy on July 5 at Loftus Versfeld, followed by a second Test in Gqeberha and a match against Georgia in Nelspruit before the Rugby Championship begins in August. Despite Kleyn's absence, the coach remains confident in the squad's balance and the integration of uncapped players who impressed during recent matches. The team has transitioned from Cape Town to Johannesburg to focus on their preparations, with squad announcements for the Italy series expected shortly. Erasmus emphasized the importance of maintaining a core group of players while layering in new talent to ensure competitive performance throughout the series.