Much like himself, Kleyn says there's no free ride for Pollard into Springbok team

Much like he had to prove himself to Springbok supporters after switching allegiance, so does Jean Kleyn believe Handre Pollard's pedigree alone isn't enough to see him coming straight back into the national team.

The World Cup-winning pivot of 2019 joins the camp in Paris on Monday after being officially confirmed as Malcolm Marx's replacement after the influential hooker suffered a tournament-ending knee injury, a decision that has polarised opinion because it leaves the Boks with only one specialist hooker in the squad.

Pollard, who missed out on the initial group because of a nagging calf injury, made a replacement appearance for his English club Leicester this past weekend, enough to convince team management of the need to recall him.

However, with Manie Libbok steadily growing at No 10 in his absence - culminating in a man of the match performance in the World Cup opener against Scotland - the 29-year-old has work to do.

"There's a player (Pollard) coming in. He's going to have to work his way back into the team, as everyone does," said Kleyn.

"It's not step in and take up a starting position. Everyone knows in this team you have to earn it, you have to work for it."

READ | Bok coach rubbishes any early focus on Ireland because of Romanian stroll: 'It's disrespectful'

The robust, towering second rower believes Pollard will ostensibly be doing just that and be prepared to put team interests first.

"Obviously he's prepared to do that. We are looking forward to having him. He's going to be a good credit to the team."

Talking about having points to prove, Kleyn - who represented the Irish at the 2019 showpiece and is one of the high-profile beneficiaries of World Rugby's change in regulations allowing players to change