Ireland Boss Joe Schmidt – “It’s An Awkward Situation With Felix [Jones]”
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Awkward.
Ireland boss Joe Schmidt says it’s a bit of “awkward situation” having Felix Jones working with the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Jones was appointed as a defence consultant for the Boks by South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus yesterday, with the former Munster coach primarily tasked with analysing opposing teams.
But with Jones having spent time in the Irish camp, and the likely scenario that Ireland and South Africa will face-off in the quarter-finals of the World Cup – Schmidt says he was forced to have a long conversation with Jones this week in a bid to protect Ireland’s intellectual property.
“It’s an awkward situation with Felix,” Schmidt said yesterday
“It’s awkward because – you don’t have to be a rocket scientist – he came with us to Japan the last time, so he was right in amongst us. So you don’t really have to ask, do you?
“He was with us, he’s seen everything that we deliver and would have a great knowledge of even the language we use in our camp, so it’s awkward for us.
”There were a couple of opportunities here, but I’d be a massive fan of what Felix has got to offer in the future, and it will be a great learning experience for him.”
“I just hope that we don’t suffer as a consequence because he’s a smart coach, he already knows a lot about us and, if we do get to a quarter-final it has to be either New Zealand or South Africa or Italy that we do play against. That would mean he could be directly opposite us on the coaching bench.”
A very clever appointment by Rassie Erasmus that could be the difference in Japan should the two sides meet.