Jean Kleyn said he grew up idolising Bakkies Botha and not Paul O'Connell as he explained why he is delighted to make his South Africa debut on Saturday - four years on from making five appearances for Ireland.
Munster's Kleyn, 29, made his Ireland bow against Italy ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup after qualifying through the three-year residency rule as it was at the time.
But, after making two appearances at the finals in Japan - against Russia and Samoa - he hasn't been selected since.
READ MORE: Munster's Jean Kleyn cleared to play for South Africa
There was a chance that would change this summer with World Cup training squad places up for grabs and after Kleyn capped a stand-out season for Munster by winning the URC crown with the Reds.
However Andy Farrell passed on the big lock and Rassie Erasmus stepped in to offer Kleyn the chance to join up with the Springboks.
That came on the back of the World Rugby rule change of two years ago that allows Test-capped players to represent a second national team if they are eligible after a period of three years of inactivity with their original country.
Kleyn explained: “I was aware of it, because a lot of my mates said to me ‘why don’t you declare?’.
"My response was I’m not going to throw my name into the hat, I was never going to initiate it, because I felt like I had made my choice.
"Look, I wasn’t expecting a phone call from Rassie - I was as shocked as the rest of the world was when Rassie rang me. I knew of the rule but I was never planning on going to say, ‘Listen Rassie, pick me bro'.
"When it came by, I couldn’t say no.”
Kleyn will line out against Australia in the Rugby Championship in Pretoria and is hoping to make a big impression, with a place in the squad for France 2023 up for grabs.
“It will always be different, it's is your home country," he said.
"Obviously it was a great honour to play for Ireland as well, but I didn’t grow up as a young boy watching Paul O’Connell play and say, 'Jeez, I wanted to play in his jersey'.
“I was watching Bakkies Botha run around, smashing guys and thinking, 'one day, one day'. You talk about childhood dreams coming through and that stuff.
"Here I am, sitting here, never thought I would get the opportunity, but things change, you know.
“It’s a bit of a round trip - Rassie was the one who took me over in the first place to Munster and now seven years later Rassie was the guy who gave me the call to come back and play here.
"It was a massive journey, but I don’t regret any part of it. I’ve built a family and a home and community out in Ireland, but you can’t pass up an opportunity like this. It is a massive honour.”
Kleyn quickly responded when asked if he was so content with life in Ireland, why didn't he stay there.
“Why not? Why not come back? It is not every day that you get this chance," he said.
"There is a very small, select group of players that can play for South Africa, and to be part of such an elite group of rugby players, to have peers - guys sitting next to me, world class rugby players who proved to be the best team in the world in 2019 - and we can hopefully prove it again this year.
"To pass up that opportunity, something that big, is something I couldn’t do.
"I think when you get called up to the Springboks, there is an onus on you. There is a certain responsibility on you to do your country proud and to represent, especially more in South Africa than most other countries.
“The Springboks give hope to a lot of people and to be part of that hope is an incredible honour and a massive responsibility as well.
"You have to perform because it is not just your hopes and dreams that is resting on Saturday’s result, but it is also your country’s.”
