Rugby World Cup winner Felix Jones explains how England can topple South Africa
South Africa win the 2023 Rugby World Cup
England-bound coach Felix Jones has revealed the key to beating South Africa less than 24 hours after winning his second Rugby World Cup with the Springboks. Jones, a former Ireland international, is joining Steve Borthwick’s backroom team ahead of the Six Nations with Kevin Sinfield expected to depart.
He signed off with the Springboks in style as they edged out New Zealand by a single point to win the Rugby World Cup, four years on from their previous triumph in Japan. England will now be expecting Jones to help them become a team capable of winning the greatest prize in rugby before the next edition of the tournament in 2027.
The 36-year-old revealed the secret to South Africa’s success after the final whistle, with their rivals only able to dethrone them by tapping into a similar winning philosophy.
“With South Africa, it’s not just the title,” said Jones. “It’s bigger than that. There’s something bigger they’re playing for that I can’t articulate. Every team has a soul or a DNA, a style or a way of playing. Every nation and every country has something. The goal is finding out how to make that more tangible. The best teams tap into that.”
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South Africa’s playing style has long been centred around their physicality, which was on full display over the course of their Rugby World Cup campaign. They made a total of 974 tackles, more than any other team, with their 201 tackles in the final alone trumping New Zealand’s tally of just 91.
It remains to be seen if Jones will be able to help England tap into their full potential when he starts work ahead of next year’s Six Nations. He remains highly regarded by South Africa’s current group of players, with Willie le Roux singing his praises before kicking 12 points to help the Springboks to Rugby World Cup glory.
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“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him without his laptop! It’s the way he works, how he talks to us, how he’s involved,” Le Roux told the Irish Times. “He helps us with our attack, our strike moves, the backs. He’s an unbelievable coach. It’s a privilege to work with him. I think the Springboks are really going to miss him, I’m just fortunate to have worked with him.”
Back row Kwagga Smith also described Jones as an ‘amazing person and coach’ while highlighting the analytical genius he has brought to the Springboks camp during his time there.
“He spends hours and hours on footage going through stuff,” added Smith. “All of us as Springboks are better players because of him.”
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