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Felix Jones’ return to the Springboks has sparked debate, with former players Shane Horgan and Benjamin Kayser hailing his unsung impact for the world champions.
Jones, a key figure in South Africa’s 2019 and 2023 World Cup triumphs, left to join England after the last edition of the global tournament but has now returned to the Republic.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast, Horgan and Kayser praised the former Ireland international’s tactical acumen and suggested his stint with England has made him even more valuable to Rassie Erasmus and the Boks.
“I don’t believe it was planned, but it’s been very useful for South Africa,” ex-winger Horgan said. “I’m just surprised Felix didn’t do a stint in Ireland or with the Lions before heading back.”
Frenchman Kayser added: “When they announced his return, there was a highlight reel of him at South Africa [against France in the 2023 World Cup quarter-final], and all you saw was him with a laptop saying: ‘Right lads, this is what we’re facing.’
“Obviously, Rassie is very important, but I didn’t really know that he was a lot of the mastermind in dissecting teams and picking out how you could get them.
ALSO: How Felix fits into Bok coaching ‘matrix’
“I could tell that the sort of pressure and this whole thing that you need to get them to scrummage more against France was really from him.
“I didn’t know how much of a mastermind he was into in terms of strategy, so using him as a spy – if he is a spy – bloody hell, that was a good idea, you’ve sent a proper weapon.”
Erasmus, in a midweek Bok presser, firmly denied that Jones was planted in England to gather intel. “It was definitely not a plan. That speculation must stop,” the Bok head coach stated.
“Things didn’t work out for him in England for whatever reason. [But] his experience of working in the UK, studying Six Nations teams, and seeing different approaches will be a huge asset as we prepare for a tough season.”
Horgan acknowledged that while Erasmus likely didn’t orchestrate Jones’ exit, his newfound knowledge undoubtedly made him an attractive prospect once he became available.
“If Rassie didn’t put him there, I bet it was a factor in bringing him back,” Horgan said. “From an Irish perspective, it’s disappointing. He’s got a massive rugby intellect, and ideally, that would have benefited Ireland instead of South Africa.”
Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
The post ‘Rassie’s spy the real Bok mastermind’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
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