Former Ireland international Alan Quinlan was on Friday’s OTB AM and spoke about Felix Jones and his new role with Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks.
Jones was brought into the South African backroom team after their attack coach Swys De Bruin stepped down for medical reasons.
The former Munster backs coach won’t directly replace De Bruin as attack coach but has joined the team as a defensive analyst.
Quinlan was concerned that Jones’ familiarity with the Irish systems could pose a problem for Joe Schmidt’s side should they come up against South Africa in the Rugby World Cup.
“It’s more than awkward because he does know a lot of the stuff about the preparation and the mentality. Rassie [Erasmus] would know a fair bit about the Irish players, as well as Jacques Nienaber.
“I think he was offered roles and stuff like that. But it’s impossible to cover all. But if you’re covered, are you just giving guys jobs to make sure they don’t go somewhere else?” Quinlan commented.
Schmidt himself showed some concern over Jones’ new job saying it was ‘awkward’ as he had spent time as a coach in Ireland camps very recently.
Jones was part of the backroom team who travelled to Japan with Ireland in 2017 and will be very familiar with much of the Irish team's systems.
Quinlan did play down fears about the signing however and pointed out that Jones is not the only coach in the South African set up who has spent time around Schmidt's squad.
“Rassie would have been in the Irish squad at times for preparations when he was at Munster, at different stages. Same as Johann van Graan has been.
“I met him over in Scotland during the Six Nations. You can’t cover every avenue but I know what you’re saying,” Quinlan commented.
Ireland are by no means guaranteed to come up against the Springboks in the World Cup. However, Jones’ appointment will surely add even more drama to the clash should the sides meet.
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