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Schalk Burger's controversial Felix Jones call gets immediate put down
By Jon Newcombe
Whilst it was announced nearly two weeks ago, the return of Felix Jones to the Springbok management team was important and still topical enough to knock Antoine Dupont’s tragic knee injury down to second place in this week’s Boks Office agenda.
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Ex-Springboks, Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger and host Hanyani Shimange all have strong views on where the Irishman fits into the overall scheme of things at the top of the latest show, with Jones having signed a deal that takes him through to the conclusion of the 2027 World Cup.
But Burger’s insinuation that Jones, a key cog in the Springboks’ back-to-back World Cup wins in 2019 and 2023, might be groomed to replace Rassie Erasmus as head coach got a flat, ‘No’ from his colleagues.
“You know Rassie likes to do two years in a head coach gig and then goes to be director of rugby, it doesn’t really change his role with the Springboks, but he does like doing that two-year block. So maybe Felix Jones is the next one to take over the head coach role?,” he mused.
Without drawing breath, former hooker Shimange said, “I don’t think so”, while de Villiers went a step further to say that he doubted the Springboks would break with tradition and go with a foreign head coach.
“I don’t think we are ready for a foreign head coach, I think Stick (current assistant coach Mzwandile Stick) is the man. But I do think from Felix’s point of view, I really think they value his input and the work ethic that he puts in,” the former Springboks captain said.
“As we know, the guy doesn’t sleep, he studies the computer clips and whatever. I think it is going to be a bit of an analysis role throughout, from an attacking and defensive point of view.”
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Shimange added: “I think Felix will overlook most of the departments and help put everything together. I don’t know if there is a name for it, but he’ll overlook everything. So it does take pressure off everyone and it is also a second set of eyes, to look at things differently.”
Jones is the latest addition to the new-look Springboks coaching post-RWC 2023, and de Villiers says it’ll be interesting to see how it affects the coaching dynamic.
“It’ll be interesting to see how he goes with (attack coach) Tony Brown, and how that relationship works out because obviously, they might think a little bit differently. But having all of those voices will be brilliant.”
De Villiers is also reassured that Jones is relocating his family to South Africa, while Burger is confident that the chemistry between Jones and Brown will work just fine.
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“Tony Brown is quite a free spirited coach, and I think the fact that he is so chilled brings a different element into that coaching staff, because I know Felix, Rassie and Jerry (Flannery, defence coach) can get quite intense. So having a quite relaxed point of contact is quite important so I don’t think Tony will be upset, he’ll carry on doing his thing.”
Closing out, de Villiers was dismissive of the claims that Jones’ short-lived time as England defence coach was some kind of act of subterfuge by Erasmus.
“If he did go to spy on England, what has he come back with?” de Villiers said, barely able to hide his indignation for England’s style of play.
“Maybe a bit of influence on their psyche, what they are trying to do on attack, I don’t think it makes any difference, does it?”
While Rassie stays in the mix, a new coach will always play second fiddle. Great coaches will never want to be that.
A different perspective might be that working with Rassie would be beneficial. Particularly if he operates at a director level.
But I suspect that when Rassie hangs up his coaching boots he’s out the mix altogether. I suspect he wants to end his career as Bok coach.
The bigger question for me is - why are we assuming that he going anywhere after 2027.
Why wouldn’t Rassie continue coaching the boks for another 4 years? And another 4 after that?
I mean he’s only 52. A spring chicken.
I don’t think he has aspirations coaching any other national side. It would be a massive downgrade. Maybe a club to make a few bar and then retire?
I do like the Boks Office but I would like these legends to get on with the rugby. This fireside chat is a bore. Soon AI will allow a punter to filter out random chat on golf in Plett and listen to exceptional rugby IP that we tune in for.
On the next coach it’s Stick. No ifs buts or maybe.
The first 15 minutes of each episode generally revolves around how much Schalk has had to drink over the past week and where he’s going to drink for the next week.
Really now? For what reason? What about Franco Smith. He has superior experience to Stick by some margin.
I find it odd that everyone keeps suggesting Jones for head coach roles, given that he’s only really been a coach at the top level for 1 year.
At SA he proved himself to be probably the best analyst and coaching consultant in the world, and that suggests (and was partly borne out when he was at England) that he could be an elite coach, but in the short term we don’t have any real evidence that he’d be qualified to be a head coach.
So you wouldn’t count his time at Munster between 2016 and 2019 (3 years), his time with the Boks between 2019 and 2023 (4 years and two WC medals) as coaching at a top level for 7 years?
I can understand his time at England wouldn’t count as time at a top level.
Don’t let Burger hear that. He’ll go for your eyes!
I think Schalk is correct.
Or at least Felix is being groomed for the option.
Doubt it! If anything Nienaber may step back in, unless he resigns with Leinster.
He already has the experience and with familiar faces in DOR which Rassie could revert to, he was also familiar with all the other coaches except Tony Brown. Which all augurs for a settled transition.