Irish support spurring South Africa's Kleyn on 'fantastic journey'

Former Ireland international Jean Kleyn acknowledges being on the verge of becoming a world champion with his native South Africa was "outside the realm of thinking" just months ago.

Munster lock Kleyn represented Ireland under Joe Schmidt at the 2019 World Cup in Japan after qualifying on residency grounds.

But, having been repeatedly overlooked by Schmidt's successor Andy Farrell, the 30-year-old was in June cleared to switch allegiance back to the Springboks before being included in Jacques Nienaber's squad for France.

Reigning champions South Africa are on course to retain their crown going into Saturday's final against fellow three-time winners New Zealand in Paris.

"I think I've caught myself thinking about it probably too often," Kleyn said of his curious Test career.

"It's a strange one because if you'd asked me six months ago if I at all thought I had any chance of being here at the World Cup final playing for the Springboks, I would have told you you are absolutely insane.

"I'll probably wake up when it's all said and done and think, 'was that a dream or did it actually happen?'. It was outside the realm of thinking.

"It's been a fantastic journey for me. It's been an absolute pleasure being part of it."

Kleyn, who joined Munster from the Stormers in 2016, played five times under Schmidt in 2019, with his final cap coming in Ireland's 47-5 pool-stage win over Samoa in Fukuoka.

His lengthy spell in the international wilderness allowed him to revert to the Springboks, a decision he feared may be met with a backlash.

But the response in his adopted nation has been overwhelmingly positive and grown since Ireland's quarter-final exit at the hands of the All Blacks.

"I've been absolutely inundated with messages from Munster