Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones has spilled the beans on why Ireland has been killing it on the rugby field, and it’s not just the luck of the Irish. With Ireland consistently ranking at the top of the world charts, Jones, an Irishman himself, pulls back the curtain on their robust rugby regimen that’s been years in the making.
“They’ve been in and around one, two or three in the world for such a long period,” Jones explained, attributing this success to a rock-solid foundation laid down over decades. “That goes back to the structures Ireland have created over decades – their school system, club system, academies, how it all feeds into the national team. They’ve really nurtured and capitalized and worked hard to make sure their feeder system is in a good place.”
“They’re extremely well coached and have been for a long time – from Declan Kidney and Les Kiss all the way through to Joe [Schmidt] and Andy [Farrell] now,”
Jones praised the lineage of Irish coaching talent.
Jones also highlighted the evolution in the Irish squad’s style, noting the strategic tweaks without a fundamental overhaul. “I wouldn’t say it’s more structured or less structured than before,” he observed. “There are new faces giving it a different flavor, and I think Andrew Goodman is doing a really good job.”
Despite the personal connections with Ireland, Jones insists that emotions are checked at the door when the Springboks face off against the Irish team. “For Jerry [Flannery], Paddy [Sullivan] and myself, it’s a little bit different, but it doesn’t impact anything at all. We treat it like any other Test match for the Springboks – of high importance.”
The Boks are not just facing opponents on the field but also battling uncertainties off it. Players like Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager have been caught up in disciplinary issues this week, which Jones admits has been a distraction. “It’s disruptive for those guys because they desperately want to be selected,” he said, acknowledging the professional attitude of the rest of the team who prepare as usual.
With the backdrop of strategic mastery and personal drama, the stage is set for an electrifying encounter between these two rugby powerhouses.
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Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones has spilled the beans on why Ireland has been killing it on the rugby field, and it’s not just the luck of the Irish. With Ireland consistently ranking at the top of the world charts, Jones, an Irishman himself, pulls back the curtain on their robust rugby regimen that’s been years in the making.
“They’ve been in and around one, two or three in the world for such a long period,” Jones explained, attributing this success to a rock-solid foundation laid down over decades. “That goes back to the structures Ireland have created over decades – their school system, club system, academies, how it all feeds into the national team. They’ve really nurtured and capitalized and worked hard to make sure their feeder system is in a good place.”
“They’re extremely well coached and have been for a long time – from Declan Kidney and Les Kiss all the way through to Joe [Schmidt] and Andy [Farrell] now,”
Jones praised the lineage of Irish coaching talent.Jones also highlighted the evolution in the Irish squad’s style, noting the strategic tweaks without a fundamental overhaul. “I wouldn’t say it’s more structured or less structured than before,” he observed. “There are new faces giving it a different flavor, and I think Andrew Goodman is doing a really good job.”
Despite the personal connections with Ireland, Jones insists that emotions are checked at the door when the Springboks face off against the Irish team. “For Jerry [Flannery], Paddy [Sullivan] and myself, it’s a little bit different, but it doesn’t impact anything at all. We treat it like any other Test match for the Springboks – of high importance.”
The Boks are not just facing opponents on the field but also battling uncertainties off it. Players like Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager have been caught up in disciplinary issues this week, which Jones admits has been a distraction. “It’s disruptive for those guys because they desperately want to be selected,” he said, acknowledging the professional attitude of the rest of the team who prepare as usual.
With the backdrop of strategic mastery and personal drama, the stage is set for an electrifying encounter between these two rugby powerhouses.