Steve Borthwick says his England squad was left speechless by the magic of a member of the Springboks’ 2019 and 2023 coaching staff during preparations for the Six Nations.
Felix Jones began his new role as England’s assistant coach, having agreed to return to the UK following the 2023 World Cup.
The 36-year-old former Munster back was a key member of Rassie Erasmus’ coaching unit since 2018, helping the Springboks win back-to-back World Cup titles for the first time in their history.
Jones has taken England’s defence coach role and Borthwick told the media that he has already made a strong impression during his short time with the squad.
“He’s one of the most intense people I have ever met,” Borthwick was quoted by RugbyPass. “This guy, I don’t know whether he sleeps.
“He has the knowledge. His understanding of the areas of the game: we were sat the other day looking at some stuff on his laptop, where he was picking apart an area of the game.
“Picking it apart, an area of contact. And showing things that I don’t think I’ve ever heard any other coach discuss. So I think he has an incredible work ethic and that knowledge is groundbreaking that he has.
“And when he presented to the players last week, the room was deathly silent. When a coach is presenting up front, I usually come down the sides just to be able to scan across the players.
“Hardly blinking, and transfixed by what he is saying. That ability to do that is superb. So work ethic, incredible knowledge and grasp of concepts and he has the players’ attention.”
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