Rassie Erasmus has received praise after quickly securing Felix Jones’ return to the Springboks coaching staff following his short stint with the England team. Jones, who helped South Africa win two Rugby World Cups, left the Springboks to be closer to his family and join Steve Borthwick’s England setup. However, his brief time in the Northern Hemisphere allowed him to gain valuable insights, which he now brings back to South Africa.
Because of the timing and circumstances of his return, a humorous conspiracy theory has emerged suggesting Jones’ time with England was essentially a spying mission to gather intelligence on England and their Six Nations rivals. Erasmus himself added fuel to the speculation by welcoming Jones back and highlighting the value of his recent experience studying northern hemisphere teams, saying that knowledge will help South Africa prepare for a challenging international season.
While some are amused by the theory, former Ireland player Shane Horgan doesn’t believe Jones’ move was a planned espionage mission. However, he acknowledges that Jones’ insights will be invaluable to South Africa. Horgan joked that while most coaches are playing simple games, Erasmus is thinking several steps ahead with more complex strategies.
One of the podcast hosts discussing the situation remarked that it only adds to Erasmus’ reputation as a master strategist, someone always suspected of having a hidden agenda.
Jones’ importance to South Africa’s success has also been highlighted by a former France international, who was surprised at just how crucial Jones was in identifying opponents’ weaknesses during the Springboks’ World Cup campaigns. A video clip from the Chasing the Sun documentary showed Jones breaking down France’s game, emphasizing how much of a role he played in South Africa’s tactical planning.
The theory that Jones acted as a ‘spy’ may be exaggerated, but his tactical knowledge and understanding of England and the northern teams are undoubtedly valuable assets.
From an Irish perspective, there’s disappointment that a coach of Jones’ caliber isn’t contributing to Irish rugby. There is speculation that some efforts were made to bring Jones into the Irish system, possibly at provincial level, though nothing materialized. His expertise would have been a significant asset to Ireland, but for now, it will benefit South Africa.