Brian O'Driscoll believes the sight of Jean Kleyn coming off the bench for South Africa in their Rugby World Cup defeat to Ireland on Saturday would have been a psychological boost for the Irish players.
The Munster second row, who played for Ireland at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, switched international allegiance to his native South Africa during the summer.
Kleyn was part of South Africa's seven forward and one back bench - The Bomb Squad - which lined out against Ireland at the weekend. The 30-year-old played 33 minutes as a second half substitute.
"To be able to somewhat nullify the Bomb Squad, they had their moments, but it didn't feel like there was that big shift, that change," former Ireland captain O'Driscoll told Off The Ball.
23 September 2023; RG Snyman of South Africa, left, and Jean Kleyn make their way onto the pitch to warm-up before the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Ireland at Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
"The psychology must be quite nice of Jean Kleyn playing for South Africa and not making our squad, not being good enough to make our squad. That has to add to you.
"I know it probably inspires him to improve performance but from our perspective, the boys must be thinking 'We've got a better team if he's gone back to play for South Africa and yet he can't make our squad'. There's a real uplift to take from those sort of moments.
"Kwagga Smith was good when he came on albeit he runs with intent but doesn't run with the same physicality as Wiese. When you see Kolisi going off at 55, 56 minutes, that's their leader, spiritual leader. Kolisi is a much improved player on four years ago. He's a bigger, fitter, more involved backrower."
O'Driscoll's take on Kleyn had been met with some negativity in South Africa.
Coming from the same nation that fields a kiwi born and aussie born on the wing, and a kiwi at scrumhalf. Very strange indeed.
It's Ireland's moment, but a very strange way to celebrate it by dumping on opposition players. https://t.co/udXFs9tzTW— Brenden Nel (@Brendennel) September 27, 2023
O'Driscoll added the Irish front row and tight five deserve a "serious shout out" for "how they managed the scrum" against the reigning world champions.
"Andrew Porter, 75 minutes, epic. No prop plays 75 minutes against South Africa anymore," said O'Driscoll.
"This is someone who's never played in the front row but I know it's exhausting, every scrum, particularly against that level of force, that size. I think they had 30 kilos on us in the pack.
"The scrum is such a psychological piece for forwards, more than us as backs. The psychology around being able to dominate a team in that space feels like it has a really positive knock on effect to the rest of your game.
"To be able to at least get parity in the vast majority of scrums, it was a very, very impressive performance from all of those involved.
"I don't know much about Bealham's scrummaging but I was impressed with him in the loose. He really was very busy."
☘️ 𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐌𝐁 𝐒𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐃 💣
🗣️ 'The scrum is such a psychological piece for forwards.'
Ireland's forwards need to be given much more credit for how they defused the 'Bomb Squad', says Brian O'Driscoll. | ☘️@VodafoneIreland | #TeamOfUs pic.twitter.com/l7NiZc3H7S— Off The Ball (@offtheball) September 26, 2023
See Also: All Blacks Were 'Buzzing' Watching Ireland Vs South Africa
