Felix Jones stays clear of revenge talk

PARIS, FRANCE: Talk in Paris ahead of this weekend’s showdown between Les Bleus and the Springboks centres on France’s desire for revenge and a chance to set the record straight.

Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones admits there’s no denying that a few regrets linger from their past encounters.

The Springboks had their first press conference of the week in Paris on Monday afternoon, and local media bombarded Jones with questions about the ‘biggest’ game of the year.

There is a long history of feuding between the two sides, a recent grudge, and vital World Ranking points are all on the line.

All the talk heading into this weekend’s clash is that the French haven’t cooled off in the two years since that World Cup quarterfinal in 2023. There is a definite focus on getting revenge and setting the record straight at Stade de France on Saturday.

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Jones fronted the questions like a true politician, diverting any suggestion that the Springboks are being hyped up for a grudge game.

“I don’t know, is my honest answer. I don’t know what they are talking about in their camp,” he said.

“I think obviously it’s hard to deny there are some regrets from that match that they would like to put right.

“So I’m not sure how they are shaping it,” adding that he wouldn’t call the upcoming clash the biggest game of the year.

“I wouldn’t say any single test match is bigger than another one. There’s been some big games for us this year.

“We played against New Zealand and lost a Test match against Australia at home, we also have Italy after this game, and later tour Ireland and Wales.

“So for us, every Test match is massive. Every time we represent South Africa, it is huge,” the assistant coach replied.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus often refers to him as ‘a vital cog’ in the Springbok ecosystem.

The former England assistant coach previously worked with the Springboks as a defence consultant, helping them win two World Cups in 2019 and 2023, before joining England following the last tournament.

“I can understand the extra attention that this match gets because of the quarterfinal in 2023, just like Ireland and New Zealand had a special match in 2023 as well.

Fond memories

“When we were here in 2022, we stayed in the same location, so we have fond memories of the culture and the environment.

“Even in 2022, when we lost that game in Marseille, we always enjoyed our time here. From that point of view, we have positive memories.

“And 2023 was positive for many other reasons, but that is in the past, and we are focused on giving ourselves the best chance this weekend.”

The Springbok team would have been announced on Monday, but the schedule was changed late on Sunday evening, resulting in a few frowns from the French media.

The announcement is now set to happen on Thursday.

Jones explained the reasoning behind the change, cool and collectedly.

“We brought 36 players with us and we just lost Ox [Nche] on the weekend, so we have a very competitive squad and we just want to make sure we get our selection right,” he explained.

He also talked about the quality of a player like Asenathi Ntlabakanye, which might suggest he could be in the mix this weekend.

As would Johan Grobbelaar, who also sat in on the press conference with Jones.

“If you watched him play for the Barbarians over the weekend, he is a brilliant rugby player.

“He is a brilliant rugby player, he’s got a lot of ball sense. He scored a try on the weekend. He is a very dynamic player, and he can get around.

“For a guy who can handle himself in a scrum and a maul, he can also play with a ball. He could also drop his height very quickly when it is required, and he’s got a very good skill set.

“I’m not sure if the world knows it yet, but his skill set is actually incredibly impressive,” explained Jones.