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Felix Jones to make shock Springboks return

(Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus is getting the band back together again after announcing that Felix Jones is rejoining his coaching team from the start of next month.

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Jones, 37, was a vital cog in the Springbok coaching team that plotted back-to-back World Cup final wins before becoming England’s defence coach because he wanted to be nearer his family.

But after seven months, the former Ireland international said that he had become disillusioned in Steve Borthwick’s set-up but was told he was being held to a 12-month notice period.

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His messy departure was finally confirmed before Christmas, but not until after it emerged that he was conducting “remote analysis” during the Autumn Nations Series without contact with Borthwick or his coaching staff.

Jones had been linked with a return to Ireland as part of Andy Farrell’s coaching staff and as Graham Rowntree’s replacement at his former province Munster, where he played and launched his coaching career.

His return to Erasmus’ technical team next week, on a deal that will run until after the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, comes as a shock.

“We are delighted to welcome Felix back into the Springbok team, and we are excited to see him pick up where he left off in 2023.

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“He was a vital cog in the coaching team from 2019 to 2023, and his experience, professionalism, and excellent work ethic will make him a great addition to the fantastic coaching team we built from the beginning of 2024.

“Felix worked very closely with most of our coaches in the past, and I have no doubt he’ll work equally closely with Jerry (Flannery) and Tony (Brown), who joined us last season.

“After spending some time in England, his experience of working in the UK and studying the opposition teams in the Six Nations and other international tournaments will add immense value in assisting us to adapt and improve as we cast an eye on a tough international season ahead.

“As a team, we are well aware that we need to keep improving and growing if we want to remain one of the best teams in the world and to give ourselves the best possible chance to defend our World Cup title in Australia in 2027.

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“And Felix, like all the other coaching and support staff, will play a key role in guiding us to do so,” said a joyful Erasmus in a statement.

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36 Comments
M
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Willardi 19 days ago

This is mixed news. Yes he is great but the new coaching team doesn’t really need any fixing does it? And going back seldom works. The bit that leaves me in awe is there are probably several countries ( including his own)who would have offered far more to recruit him but he chose the Boks. That speaks volumes about the Bok management team and the Bok environment. I am unconvinced that he learnt a significant amount of IP with Borthwick.

P
PB 18 days ago

Worked a treat in 2023!

It isn’t about fixing, it is about adding IP. Felix is an astute coach and will definitely dovetail very well with TB and Flannery.

B
Bull Shark 19 days ago

What’s interesting for me is that Felix joined the boks as a defence coach, left the boks as their attack coach and joined England as the defence coach. So he comes back with a different perspective - including one from within the 6 Nations.


Also, Felix is highly regarded as an analyst. With a massive work ethic. So if anything he may be the guy that does the analytical work that polishes off the work done by Jerry, Tony and the rest of the Bok coaching team. He’s very similar to Rassie (and Jacques Nienaber) in that regard.


Rassie clearly holds Felix in very high regard, recommending Felix to replace him at Munster.


I think this is a massive boost for the boks.


I wonder if Galthie or Gregor Townsend is open to being the Bok bus driver?

M
MP 19 days ago

The Yookay.

B
Bull Shark 19 days ago

What’s really nice about this is that Felix went on a two year paid sabbatical to study up in the 6 Nations. Paid for by England. What maroons.


He didn’t even play any part in the game against the Boks. I mean you couldn’t script this any better if this was a piece of fiction. Or if this was a simulation. Where the boks keep winning the World Cup.

L
LE 19 days ago

he would have been better off studying Ireland or New Zealand this current English team is no where near the RWC semis

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Alex 19 days ago

Yeah quite gutted as an Englishman. It hurts, not gonna lie. Lol not that anyone cares haha

B
Bull Shark 19 days ago

Best. News.


You know the new job was sh1t when you can’t wait to go back to the old one.

W
WI 19 days ago

Welcome home.

R
RedWarriors 19 days ago

Damn it!

M
M.W.Keith 19 days ago

Not that shocking really, the Bok setup has always been a home for Jones. The big question….will Nienaber return from Leinster before RWC ‘27 with a dossier on Irish rugby?

B
Bull Shark 19 days ago

We can only hope so


We only need Nienaber on a consulting gig in 2027 really. I’m sure he shares lots of insights with Rassie already.

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JW 1 hour ago
'France may leave top players at home but will still be serious contenders in New Zealand'

The country turned septic on Foster for losing a series to what was arguably the best Irish side in history and one that may not have been ranked number one in the world when they arrived, but were by the time they left.

Imagine how feral the nation will be if Robertson’s All Blacks lose to what is supposedly going to be a French ‘B’ team?

This author proving he has less of an understanding of rugby than the general population.


The country was septic because of how easily they got beat Paul. The country is smart enough to rate the relative level of performances, and if Razors team goes backwards like Fosters the criticism you suggest might come will be fully deserved. If France B perform as good as France A and win by the same margins then those with the criticism the team should be winning every game will also be deserved. But the inference that the public didn’t give Ireland the credit they deserved couldn’t be further from the truth imo.

France have beaten the All Blacks on the last three occasions the two sides have met, and that the former has used 38 players in the process.

France could leave 40 players at home in July and still be a serious contender

And to the vibe of this article, it provides abosolutely zero reason to believe the next 38 best French are going to be as good as these first 38. Paul got one thing right, it’s no joke that France will be leaving behind 40 players.


France have a 45 man squad for 6N (well using Wiki), the team could be made up of these leftovers from the teams not likely to get close to Toulouse and Bordeaux, given that just the third place team is doing commendably well not to be in negative for and against like the rest.

Uini Atonio ——— Prop

Giorgi Beria ——— Prop

Georges-Henri Colombe ———- Prop

Jean-Baptiste Gros ——— Prop

Dany Priso ——— Prop

Rabah Slimani———- Prop

Hugo Auradou ——— Lock

Mickaël Guillard ——— Lock

Matthias Halagahu ——— Lock

Romain Taofifénua ——— Lock

Esteban Abadie ——- Back row

Grégory Alldritt ———- Back row

Paul Boudehent ———- Back row

Oscar Jégou ——— Back row

Nolann Le Garrec ——— Scrum-half

Gaël Fickou ——— Centre

Antoine Frisch ——— Centre

Émilien Gailleton ——— Centre

Noah Nene ——— Centre

Théo Attissogbé ——— Wing

Gaël Dréan ———- Wing

Gabin Villièren —— Wing

Léo Barré ——— Fullback


One wouldn’t think Atonio is going to come (I’d be surprised if Fickou is still not rested or he and Le Garrec aren’t involved in a relegation playoff game) but a few good players there like Leo Barre, Le Garrec, Taofifénua, and that back row, but also a distinct lack of a spine with the 3 best playmakers playing in the Final at home.


What are the possibilities to fill out these missing spots? looking at Opta’s stats hub Serin and Couilloud provide good back up for Le Garrec by fact of having the highest try involvements in the Top14 (along with Michael Ruru). And Serin’s partner Herve looks the most threatening to carry on the teams style with his elusiveness?

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