Jean Kleyn 'was very close' to Ireland recall - Paul O'Connell

Paul O'Connell says Munster's Jean Kleyn was close to being called up for the Irish Rugby World Cup training squad, before the second row switched international allegiance to ply for South Africa.

Kleyn won five caps for Ireland in 2019 after qualifying through the residency rules, but was able to switch to his native South Africa having gone more than three years without a Test match.

While the Munster lock hasn't featured for Ireland in the current World Cup cycle, he emerged as a potential bolter for Andy Farrell's side after being one of Munster's key players in their BKT United Rugby Championship title success last season.

The 29-year-old was lest out of Ireland's summer training squad, and just a few days later he was called up by the Springboks, before making his debut in the opening round of the Rugby Championship in July.

Should Kleyn make South Africa's final World Cup squad, he could even come up against Ireland when the sides meet in Pool B on 23 September in Paris.

"He went away and he's entitled to go for what he went for and I wish him all the best," O'Connell (below) said.

Kleyn started all but two games for the province last season and was ever-present in the starting line-up from late November.

And while O'Connell admits it was a very close decision, he says management wanted to stay loyal to players who they had been working with in previous campaigns.

"He was very close," the Ireland forwards coach added.

"He's very experienced now, experienced different coaching staffs with Munster. He was part of a really successful Munster team this year and he does what he does really well. He’s an excellent mauler, excellent maul-defender. I think his ball-handling and his defence has improved massively now in the last