The Bok pack will be missing some tall timber against Italy and Georgia.

Jean Kleyn has been ruled out of South Africa’s three Tests in July after sustaining an unspecified injury against the Barbarians on Saturday.

Kleyn, who started the match with lock partner Lood de Jager, will return to Irish club Munster to recover from the injury and undergo the necessary rehabilitation.

The Springboks travelled from Cape Town to Johannesburg on Sunday to begin their preparations for the first Test against Italy at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.

They will line up against Italy again a week later at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha before taking on Georgia at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday, 19 July.

“We feel for Jean,” said Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, “but injuries are part of the game, and we are fortunate to have good depth at lock within the squad, so there is no need for us to replace him at this stage.”

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