Graham Rowntree: Munster ‘very happy’ with timescale of Jean Kleyn’s recovery from injury

Rowntree addressed speculation that Kleyn’s setback was more serious than first feared, but he made it clear that is not the case, which has come as a major relief.

World Cup winner Kleyn’s season has been hampered by respective knee and eye issues, and while Rowntree revealed that the second-row (30) visited a specialist in America, Munster are ‘very happy’ with how his recovery is going.

“There has been a bit said about Jean Kleyn’s eye injury,” Rowntree began.

“He has been to America and we are very happy with the plan for him going forward. He will be available for the start of next season.”

Today's Sport News in 90 Seconds - 23rd April

Rowntree was later asked by a local South African journalist if Kleyn's comeback would be in time to feature for the Springboks this summer:

“It could, it could be, yeah. I never thought about that. Crikey, thanks for reminding me.

“There was a bit of confusion in the Irish media that his eye injury may be worse than suggested, but no, he has seen a specialist in America, and he and we are very happy with the plan going forward.

“He will be available for next season. When that next season starts, I can’t tell you exactly.”

Fresh after last week’s big win over the Bulls in Pretoria, Munster are aiming to back it up when they face the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

“It was an outstanding result, we stuck to our plan to nullify their threats,” Rowntree said.

“You have got to be good at the same things again. You’ve got to match a big set-piece to deny them access.

“These are particularly good at the defensive breakdown. They will go for most breakdowns in terms of poaching the ball, as dangerous as the Bulls in terms of counter-attack and transition."

Munster are preparing at sea level in Cape Town this week before travelling back up to up altitude to Johannesburg.

Rowntree believes Munster have struck the right balance in terms of their preparations, as they look to learn from their previous trips to South Africa.

“It’s a special home for us,” the Munster boss added.

“We have been here before, it’s an impressive hotel in Cape Town. We have two games played up at altitude but we purposely come down here because we know they have got outstanding recovery facilities here as well.

“Guys can get out into the area, and it’s a perfect time to get the group together, 24 hours a day, get to know each other, get connected, I think is the current vernacular.

“And we just like the place. We have got fond memories. The last time we were here we won the final, so it was a bit of a no-brainer to come down and give the lads a bit of a break. We will go back up to Jo’burg on Friday.”