Felix Jones isn't losing any sleep over England's recent rugby woes. Despite England's unflattering exit from the Six Nations with losses to Scotland and Ireland, the Springbok assistant coach is licking his chops for a juicy showdown when the English squad tries to redeem themselves against the world champions in Johannesburg come July.
Jones, who has had a backstage pass to England's strategies post-2023 World Cup, brushed off any panic about England's form at a press conference at SARU House. "If you look at their trajectory over the last two seasons, it’s only been going in one direction – which I’m not surprised by," he noted, unfazed by the recent defeats.
"The game here in July is going to be tasty."
England's recent performances could be seen as alarming, with them conceding 31-20 at Murrayfield followed by a 42-21 thrashing at Twickenham. However, Jones highlighted the quality of their opponents, "In the last two games, they played against an extremely determined Irish team... anyone that was hearing the noises coming out of the Irish camp that week... I think Ireland played with their backs up against the wall and were really desperate to demonstrate a performance that they were well capable of."
He continued, emphasizing the historical intensity of England's matchups, "And then the Scotland game – the Calcuta Cup has been one of the most contested fixtures in the Six Nations in recent years." This perspective suggests that while England’s recent form might look bleak, the context of their matches tells a different story.
With a keen eye on the upcoming Nations Championship, Jones is confident in a resurgence from the English team, hinting at their potential to bounce back. "So if you look at their trajectory, they won 12 games in a row, now lost two in a row against some really determined teams. I think their trajectory will keep going in the way they want it to." With these words, Jones sets the stage for a compelling clash that might just redefine the pecking order in international rugby.
As the Springboks gear up to host England, the rugby world is buzzing with anticipation. Will England’s visit to Johannesburg mark the beginning of their comeback, or will the Springboks continue their dominance? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – it’s going to be an enthralling battle.
2,100 posts
Felix Jones isn't losing any sleep over England's recent rugby woes. Despite England's unflattering exit from the Six Nations with losses to Scotland and Ireland, the Springbok assistant coach is licking his chops for a juicy showdown when the English squad tries to redeem themselves against the world champions in Johannesburg come July.
Jones, who has had a backstage pass to England's strategies post-2023 World Cup, brushed off any panic about England's form at a press conference at SARU House. "If you look at their trajectory over the last two seasons, it’s only been going in one direction – which I’m not surprised by," he noted, unfazed by the recent defeats.
"The game here in July is going to be tasty."
England's recent performances could be seen as alarming, with them conceding 31-20 at Murrayfield followed by a 42-21 thrashing at Twickenham. However, Jones highlighted the quality of their opponents, "In the last two games, they played against an extremely determined Irish team... anyone that was hearing the noises coming out of the Irish camp that week... I think Ireland played with their backs up against the wall and were really desperate to demonstrate a performance that they were well capable of."
He continued, emphasizing the historical intensity of England's matchups, "And then the Scotland game – the Calcuta Cup has been one of the most contested fixtures in the Six Nations in recent years." This perspective suggests that while England’s recent form might look bleak, the context of their matches tells a different story.
With a keen eye on the upcoming Nations Championship, Jones is confident in a resurgence from the English team, hinting at their potential to bounce back. "So if you look at their trajectory, they won 12 games in a row, now lost two in a row against some really determined teams. I think their trajectory will keep going in the way they want it to." With these words, Jones sets the stage for a compelling clash that might just redefine the pecking order in international rugby.
As the Springboks gear up to host England, the rugby world is buzzing with anticipation. Will England’s visit to Johannesburg mark the beginning of their comeback, or will the Springboks continue their dominance? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – it’s going to be an enthralling battle.