Calm Before the Storm: Jones Prepares for France Clash

Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones remains composed ahead of clash with France

Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones has emphasized the need for calmness as South Africa prepares for a highly anticipated match against France at the Stade de France on Saturday. He addressed the media hype surrounding the fixture, particularly France's desire for revenge following their narrow loss to the Springboks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.

This Test will be the first encounter between the two teams since the Boks secured a dramatic 29-28 victory in the aforementioned quarter-final held at the same venue.

While acknowledging the heightened interest in this match due to France’s previous loss, Jones made it clear that their primary focus is on being thoroughly prepared for the challenge ahead.

Reflecting on his return to France, Jones said: “We enjoy it every time we are here in France, and we have fond memories, even from the match we lost in 2022 in Marseille. What happened in 2023 was positive in many ways, but that's in the past. Our focus this week is to give ourselves the best chance to perform well on Saturday.”

Jones chose not to delve into the concept of revenge from the French side but acknowledged that the hosts would likely want to rectify the outcome of the last encounter.

“I don’t know if they see this as a revenge match, to be honest. I’m not sure how they are discussing it internally. However, it’s hard to deny they may have regrets from that game they'd like to amend,” he stated.

Despite local media suggesting this could be the biggest match of the season for France, who recently claimed the Six Nations title, Jones maintained that every Test is significant.

“I wouldn’t say any single Test match is bigger than another. We've faced tough competition this year against New Zealand, and we suffered a loss against Australia at home. We have further matches lined up against Italy, Ireland, and Wales, so every match is crucial, albeit I understand the extra focus on this fixture after the World Cup quarter-final,” he explained.

However, Jones acknowledged the tough challenge awaiting them, predicting that France would field a different side compared to the one that faced the All Blacks in July.

“France is a major threat, particularly their pack, and they have numerous talented players to choose from,” Jones commented. “They've developed significant depth over the last few years, so we expect this match to be as much of a battle as it was in 2022 and 2023.”

Regarding the expected French team, Jones noted, “Fabien Galthié (France head coach) often selects lesser-known players for summer series tours to build depth, but for this game, we anticipate them to field a different lineup.”

When asked about the decision to change the Springbok team announcement from Monday to Thursday, Jones responded, “Historically, we have often adjusted the days of our team announcements. Following Ox (Nche)'s injury last weekend, we want to ensure we have our selection right before making it public.”

Springbok hooker Johan Grobbelaar expressed his enthusiasm about the possibility of being selected for the match against France, stating that it would be one of the most competitive matches he has played in. “This is my first time in Paris, and playing alongside quality players in such an important match would be an incredible opportunity,” Grobbelaar added. “I expect it to be a tremendous battle.”