For a player who was a stand-out member of Ireland's 2007 under-20 Grand Slam team and was a nailed on certainty to go to the 2011 World Cup, Felix Jones' career path hasn't developed as he might have hoped. Ever since the fateful last warm-up game before Declan Kidney named his 30-man squad for the World Cup, injuries have been a major factor in his career, so next Saturday could mark something of a breakthrough day for the 27-year-old fullback.
The expectation is that Jones will be named on the bench tomorrow, thus giving him the opportunity to win his seventh cap on Saturday and making it the first time he has forced his way into an Irish match-day squad for a frontline test.
He made his debut in the first warm-up game in August 2011 as a replacement against Scotland at Murrayfield, and started both of the subsequent games against France in Bordeaux and at the Aviva.
Sixty-eight minutes into the latter game Jones landed awkwardly while trying to gather a high ball and damaged a ligament in his right foot. Shoulder surgery would then end his 2011-12 season prematurely.
Although he has since been capped on the summer tours to the USA and Canada in 2013, and in the first of last summer’s two Tests in Argentina, this season he has enjoyed an injury-free run to force his way into the squad ahead of Craig Gilroy and Jared Payne.
Biggest test
Agreeing that it would represent the biggest test of his international career to date, Jones said: “It’s South Africa, they’re number two in the world at the moment. You want to be testing yourself against the best in the world, so yeah, absolutely.”
He also agreed that his Test career has “probably been stop-start”.
“That would be a good way of describing it. I’ve had a couple of injuries that have probably curtailed a little bit of my development but I keep coming back and keep trying to get myself involved. As I said, it’s just a massive honour to get up here any time, so just looking to put my best foot forward again.”
The pre-World Cup injury marked a low point. He described it with a laugh yesterday as “the killer blow”, but added: “I’ve moved on from it. It’s just a part of it now and you have to adapt. You might have to change a few things about yourself. You just have to adapt or die, I suppose.”
“Guys that come back from injury, they may be lacking in certain areas or, it’s always a rush to get back. You always want to get back in as quick as you can and, say it’s a foot injury, a shoulder injury, whatever it might be, you might be limited in what you can do, so you have to develop in other ways. You’ve got to spend time away from the pitch when you aren’t playing, developing other skills. You just have to adapt, keep developing yourself.”
Another factor in the stop-start nature of Jones' career, aside from injuries, is Rob Kearney, whose presence in Leinster contributed to Jones seeking pastures new when relocating to Munster in 2009, and who has assumed ownership of the Irish number 15 jersey for seven seasons.
“I’d have a very good relationship with Rob. We talk a good bit, be it after reps, to see what each other is thinking. Look, if Rob was gone, I’d be more than happy to step in and likewise if I was gone and Rob were to step in. I’m hoping to be involved, of course. He’s a sound guy, a nice guy.”
Vocal fan
Anthony Foley
has been a vocal fan of Jones, especially since becoming Munster head coach this season.
He has even made the product of St Andrew’s and Seapoint team captain on occasion, and Jones’ attributes his good form to Munster going well.
“The margins are very fine. There was a stage there when people were saying we were in a crisis but we’ve gotten around a couple of steep hills, let’s say, and we’ve come out the other side of them quite nicely.
“It always helps when the province is going well and I’ve got some great guys around me and a lot of credit goes to our forward pack in Munster and the guys doing the work on the inside, giving guys on the outside opportunities. I’m happy with where I’m at but I’m not going to stay here, I’m going to keep trying to develop and adapt and trying to move forward.”
Last summer's first Test in Resistencia marked the first time Jones had played under Joe Schmidt, but it has always been striking how regularly the Irish coach name-checks the Munster fullback.
Clearly, like Foley, Schmidt is a fan of Jones’ work ethic, positioning and reading of the game.
“Ah, he’s brilliant,” Jones said of Schmidt. “Obviously you guys know him in terms of his detail, his feedback and knowledge about things in general.
“Yeah, my relationship with him is good, it’s very honest and very up front and he’s always given it to me straight and never tried to sugar-coat anything. I think he’s aware of my abilities, my strengths and weaknesses, and we can have some honest conversations.”
