The rugby world is abuzz with the news that former Leinster and Munster full-back, Felix Jones, will be joining Steve Borthwick’s backroom team as attack coach for the England rugby team. Jones is currently busy preparing the Springboks for their bid to go back-to-back next autumn before he switches his focus to England.
For many, the idea of an Irishman donning the whites and taking to the home coaching box at Twickenham may take some getting used to, but for Jones, it is all about the opportunity to coach at the highest level with some of the best players in the world. Jones served as an assistant to Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber at Munster before taking up their offer to join them in South Africa after leaving the province.
Jones joined the Boks in 2019, operating as a consultant for their World Cup before coming on board full-time in 2020 when he ran the attack for the Lions series. He spent six months during the pandemic living in South Africa with his young family, while outside of competition windows, he worked as Erasmus’ eyes and ears in Europe, watching and liaising with the large number of ex-pats plying their trade in the URC, French and English leagues.
The experience has been invaluable, and it will be a wrench for Jones to leave after this year’s World Cup. He owes Rassie and Jacques absolutely everything from the point of view of getting him in at Munster in the first place. During the Lions’ tournament, he was there with his family for six months. His two boys were in school in Paarl (near Cape Town), so it has been a great experience for the last four and a half years.
Borthwick’s appointment of Jones suggests he is looking to shake things up in the England set-up by bringing in fresh ideas and tactics. Jones has a reputation for being mild-mannered and thorough, and his extensive knowledge of the game will undoubtedly be an asset to the England team.
Jones will be joining the England set-up after the Autumn Internationals, but his focus right now is solely on helping the Springboks retain their World Cup title next year. However, he is not the only member of the Boks’ backroom team moving on, with Nienaber joining Leinster next autumn when his World Cup commitments come to an end. Jones said that the defence guru has been his mentor and someone he admires greatly.
Test rugby can be addictive, and even though Jones may not cherish it now, he will always have that piece of gold that marks his time in South Africa. The all-or-nothingness of Test rugby means that if you lose your next Test after a World Cup win, you quickly get brought back to earth. Jones’ parents may have it, but his focus is now fully on the Springboks and ensuring their World Cup preparations go according to plan.
This year’s tournament is looming large, and the clash with Ireland on 25th September is earmarked as the key fixture. Jones is too canny to get drawn into thinking that far ahead, though. He believes that the focus should purely be on The Rugby Championship, and he is aware that losing a couple of games could harm their momentum and belief going into the World Cup.
Jones’ move to England will undoubtedly raise a few eyebrows, but it is a testament to his coaching ability and reputation within the rugby world. With a wealth of experience behind him, he is sure to bring some exciting new ideas to the England set-up. The rugby world will keep a close eye on his progress as he switches his focus from the Springboks to England’s Six Nations campaign next year.
