Felix Jones completes Rassie Erasmus’ Springbok coaching ticket

Former Munster player and backs coach, Felix Jones has today been confirmed as the final man in the Springboks coaching team for this years Rugby World Cup.

After leaving Munster in the off season, Jones links up with Rassie Erasmus once more with the pair enjoying a successful year together at Munster.

The former Irish international will join the squad in Japan on a short-term consultancy, filling a vacancy left by the withdrawal for medical reasons of Swys de Bruin.

Jones will take on a new role and not be a straight swap for attack coach, De Bruin.

Director of Rugby, Erasmus said,

“I spoke to the players after Swys decided to step down and the consensus was that we didn’t want a new attack coach.”

“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.”

With most coaches at this time of the season preoccupied in other positions, Erasmus feels fortunate that Jones was available.

“Felix will bring a fresh eye to our analysis and planning and I am looking forward to his input.”

“He is a real student of the game and I believe the players will benefit from his contribution.”

Jones, 32, 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.

He stopped playing at the age of 28 and went straight into coaching with his last province, Munster, where he helped the team to three consecutive Heineken Cup semi-finals before leaving the province earlier this year.