Whilst it was announced nearly two weeks ago, the return of Felix Jones to the Springbok management team was important and still topical enough to knock Antoine Dupont’s tragic knee injury down to second place in this week’s Boks Office agenda.
Ex-Springboks, Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger and host Hanyani Shimange all have strong views on where the Irishman fits into the overall scheme of things at the top of the latest show, with Jones having signed a deal that takes him through to the conclusion of the 2027 World Cup.
But Burger’s insinuation that Jones, a key cog in the Springboks’ back-to-back World Cup wins in 2019 and 2023, might be groomed to replace Rassie Erasmus as head coach got a flat, ‘No’ from his colleagues.
“You know Rassie likes to do two years in a head coach gig and then goes to be director of rugby, it doesn’t really change his role with the Springboks, but he does like doing that two-year block. So maybe Felix Jones is the next one to take over the head coach role?,” he mused.
Without drawing breath, former hooker Shimange said, “I don’t think so”, while de Villiers went a step further to say that he doubted the Springboks would break with tradition and go with a foreign head coach.
“I don’t think we are ready for a foreign head coach, I think Stick (current assistant coach Mzwandile Stick) is the man. But I do think from Felix’s point of view, I really think they value his input and the work ethic that he puts in,” the former Springboks captain said.
“As we know, the guy doesn’t sleep, he studies the computer clips and whatever. I think it is going to be a bit of an analysis role throughout, from an attacking and defensive point of view.”
Shimange added: “I think Felix will overlook most of the departments and help put everything together. I don’t know if there is a name for it, but he’ll overlook everything. So it does take pressure off everyone and it is also a second set of eyes, to look at things differently.”
Jones is the latest addition to the new-look Springboks coaching post-RWC 2023, and de Villiers says it’ll be interesting to see how it affects the coaching dynamic.
“It’ll be interesting to see how he goes with (attack coach) Tony Brown, and how that relationship works out because obviously, they might think a little bit differently. But having all of those voices will be brilliant.”
De Villiers is also reassured that Jones is relocating his family to South Africa, while Burger is confident that the chemistry between Jones and Brown will work just fine.
“Tony Brown is quite a free spirited coach, and I think the fact that he is so chilled brings a different element into that coaching staff, because I know Felix, Rassie and Jerry (Flannery, defence coach) can get quite intense. So having a quite relaxed point of contact is quite important so I don’t think Tony will be upset, he’ll carry on doing his thing.”
Closing out, de Villiers was dismissive of the claims that Jones’ short-lived time as England defence coach was some kind of act of subterfuge by Erasmus.
“If he did go to spy on England, what has he come back with?” de Villiers said, barely able to hide his indignation for England’s style of play.
“Maybe a bit of influence on their psyche, what they are trying to do on attack, I don’t think it makes any difference, does it?”
