Boks pulled off a 'massive coup'
REACTION: Ireland scrumhalf Conor Murray says Felix Jones will be an influential presence in the Springbok squad.
The former Irish international will join the Boks in Japan on a short-term basis as a “defence consultant”, filling a vacancy left by the withdrawal for medical reasons of Swys de Bruin.
The 32-year-old won 13 caps for Ireland at fullback or wing during a 10-year playing career with Leinster and Munster. He was part of Ireland’s 2015 Six Nations title-winning squad and also represented his country at the Sevens Rugby World Cup in 2009.
Murray, who played with Jones for Munster and Ireland, believes the former international can help take the Boks to the next level in their preparations for the World Cup.
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“I’m a big fan of Felix. I played with him and was coached by him and he gave 100 per cent commitment every time,” Murray told RTÉ Sport.
“He really put in the hours to become a good player and as good a coach as he is now. It’s a massive coup for South Africa.
“[South Africa coaches] Rassie [Erasmus] and Jacques [Nienaber] are big fans of his and he’ll go over there and be fully committed.
“He’ll add an awful lot to their squad but he’s a big loss to Munster, but definitely a huge gain for South Africa.”
Jones stopped playing at the age of 28 and went straight into coaching with Munster.
In 2017 he was as an assistant coach to the Irish national coaching team for their June tour.
Rassie Erasmus explained Jones’ role in the coaching team.
“I spoke to the players after Swys [de Bruin] decided to step down and the consensus was that we didn’t want a new attack coach,” said Erasmus.
“The feeling was that bringing in someone in that role now with new ideas now would be destabilising at this last stage of the preparations.
“But they were interested in having more analysis of defensive patterns and structures to assist in breaking down the opposition.”
Source: RTÉ Sport
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That’s a wrap of this week’s training in Joburg. Team departure to Japan is on Friday.#StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/Hcku5jZnp2
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 28, 2019
