Former Ireland international Felix Jones may only be a recent arrival to South African rugby, but it seems the Dublin native is already having an impact on the Springboks.
The former Munster fullback and attack coach linked up with his former boss Rassie Erasmus recently, with the brief of analysing opposition defences; his first assignment being a relatively straight forward dismissal of hosts Japan in their final warm-up game.
But with South Africa opening their World Cup account against a three-in-a-row chasing New Zealand, Jones and his fellow coaches will have to up their game even further to make a winning start in the far east.
Asked this morning about what impact - if any - Jones has made on his colleagues since his recent arrival onto Tassie Erasmus's ticket, his fellow coach Mzwandile Stick says he's been impressed with the 32-year-old's outlook on the game.
"One thing that he has brought to our side is that he understands the European sides very well, and he also has a good relationship with some of the coaches in New Zealand, so that is some information that we managed to get from him.
"I have to be honest and say that he is a very good guy and it is nice to work with this passionate about his attack and there is a lot that he is contributing to our side, most recently with his attack and his philosophy behind the attack.
Mzwandile Stick on what coach Felix Jones has added to the @Springboks environment. #RWC2019 #NZLvRSA pic.twitter.com/3avjwz0b1H
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) September 16, 2019
"So, he has really contributed a lot in a short space of time. You saw in the game played against Japan the opportunities we had and we managed to capitalise on them and it was because of his contribution also that is adding value on our side."
With both the Springboks and All Blacks both heavy favourites to win their games against Italy, Canada and Namibia with ease, Saturday's meeting between the pair is likely to decide first place in Pool B.
The winners of that pool will take on the runners-up of Ireland's Pool A in the last eight of the tournament.
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