Jean Kleyn is making up for lost time.
August 31 and, two days out from the start of the new Guinness PRO14 season, the Munster lock was letting out a battle-cry:
https://twitter.com/JeanKleyn/status/903344751260430336
The South African played 13 times for the province in his first season after arriving from Stormers. Just shy of 600 minutes and a lot less game time, and influence, than he would have hoped for. Injuries ravaged his season.
Having completely bought into what it is to be a Munster player, the lock was devastated to miss the business end of 2016/17. He is back, fully fit and he is already showing how brutal he can be to opponents in the new season.
Kleyn’s fitness and form, in the early part of the season, is akin to a new signing. With Donnacha Ryan over in Paris with Racing 92, Kleyn has given the province a welcome boost.
After three starts this season, Kleyn has already clocked up 212 minutes on the pitch and some of his match statistics are a real eye-opener.
Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has named the PRO14’s leading performer in his starting XV for the Friday night clash with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun. If Munster want to maintain their winning start to the season, they will need ‘The Master of Destruction’ at his very best.
MUNSTER RUGBY
Just one change from the Munster team that beat Ospreys last time out. Rory Scannell comes in at No.12 for Jaco Taute.
Team | Just one change with @scannell_rory12 set for 1st start of the new season
Full team news: https://t.co/3kGji7vWwO#GLAvMUN pic.twitter.com/D4MuT4a8hR
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) September 21, 2017
LEINSTER RUGBY
Luke McGrath [arm] and Fergus McFadden [hamstring] miss out but Jamison Gibson Park and Isa Nacewa are back in South Africa and start, respectively, at scrum-half and inside centre. Josh van der Flier starts at openside and will win his 50th Leinster cap.
WATCH: Here is the team to represent #LeinsterRugby against @CheetahsRugby tomorrow in Bloemfontein. #CHEvLEI #JoinTheRoar pic.twitter.com/GDH2sgHczN
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) September 21, 2017
ULSTER RUGBY
Charles Piutau returns at fullback and Tommy Bowe starts on the right wing but Marcell Coetzee [knee] has not been risked.
Here is your Ulster Rugby team for Friday's clash versus Dragons at Kingspan Stadium. Can Ulster make it 4/4? https://t.co/17RctW2d6B pic.twitter.com/mqpU3yL8eT
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) September 21, 2017
Connacht head coach Kieran Keane names his starting XV on Friday afternoon.
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