Irish Daily Star - Inside Sport
JONES WARY OF IRELAND ATTACK
FELIX Jones fears Ireland’s “complete” attack can tear England apart if his new defensive system doesn’t click today.
But the Dubliner is comfortable in his skin as he strives to cause an upset at Twickenham.
Appointed as England defence coach by Steve Borthwick following the departure of Kevin Sinfield after the World Cup, Jones immediately bowled over his new boss with his work ethic.
The former Munster player came to London with a top pedigree, having worked under Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber in back-to-back World Cups wins with South Africa.
But England’s defence remains very much a work in progress.
Nienaber, his mentor, spilled the beans late last year when he said it would take 14 weeks to get Leinster right up to speed with his new defensive system.
So how long will it take Jones to do something similar, given he has the England players for shorter windows?
“I don’t have an exact time-frame,” said Jones.
“I’ve heard Jacques say that a few times, and I’ve also heard him say he probably shouldn’t have said that out loud.
“I think effort is probably the biggest thing. Effort and commitment are the two biggest.
“The effort needed will be considerable, because Ireland are a great team, their record speaks for itself.
“I think it’s two games in 22 that they’ve lost, so their ability to score tries from all over the field is impressive to see, the skill sets of the players, every single player is an option, a passing option, multiple players at the line, behind the line, kicking options.
“So they’ve a very complete attack.
“We’ve got to be on it for 80 minutes, because with a single lapse, Ireland have shown repeatedly the capability to cut you open.
“But on top of that it’s not just one department — the entire game plan needs to come together to put Ireland under pressure.”
The 36-year-old isn’t fazed about trying to take down the country of his birth.
“I’ve coached against Ireland twice before,” he said.
“I think when you go into coaching you have to accept that there’s only so much time you’ll be with certain teams before you move on.
“There’s plenty of exenglish coaching staff members on the Irish team as well. It’s just the way it is.
Final
“Ireland could easily have been in that World Cup final, only for a Jordie Barrett making a miraculous try-saver under that maul.
“It’s one, two, three South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and it’s very tight between them.
“There are a couple of changes of personnel there (from the World Cup), but largely it’s a hugely consistent group of players (Ireland).
“You can see there is a lot of forethought in how they’re trying to approach the game.”
Ireland are expected to win and to make it a record 12 Six Nations victories on the spin.
Does that take the pressure off England and put it on them?
“You’d have to ask them, we try to stay in our own reality,” Jones said.
“We’re very aware of what’s going well, what needs work, so you’d have to ask them.
“The mood’s been good, we’ve trained well, everyone’s come through fit in the backend of the week.
“So we’re hoping to put in an 80-minute performance, that’s something we feel we probably haven’t put together in the three games so far.
“So that’s a big focus for us to try to tie it all together.”
ROBBIE HENSHAW v HENRY SLADE
ONE of the thrills of the 2024 campaign has been the return of an injury-free Robbie Henshaw to his powerhouse, rampaging best.
His solidity, finally given free rein at second-centre, is a key part of the meanest Irish defence in history.
JOE MCCARTHY v MARO ITOJE
BIG Joe has changed the
Irish forwards’ dynamic. He gets involved and is a physical threat on both sides of the ball.
Itoje, having broken through and looking potentially the world’s best second-row, has been posted ‘missing’ these last two years.
BUNDEE AKI v OLLIE LAWRENCE
THE Connacht centre’s performances these past 18 months have been reason alone to watch this team. Lawrence had an awful time against Scotland last week, looking as if he had never even met centre partner Slade.
CAELAN DORIS v BEN EARL
DORIS may yet get Six Nations player of the tournament and his seeing off of France’s gregory Alldritt in the first game was the first testament to that. Ben Earl is a ‘players’ player’, well liked and admired for his technical ability
— but is he just slightly small?