Resilient Jones determined to persevere

Felix Jones should be reflecting on a first training session in New Zealand and cherishing memories of Ireland’s colourful welcome to Queenstown.

Instead, after falling awkwardly in the dying moments against France, he finds himself forced to stay at home and nurse an injury, a situation he is all too familiar with.

”I’ve torn a ligament in my foot, a ligament that stabilises the foot,” he told MunsterRugby.ie. “Until it stabilises I‘ll be out of action. I’m seeing a specialist next week in London so after that I’ll have a clearer picture hopefully."

With impressive performances in all his World Cup warm-up matches Jones was in pole position to travel as Ireland’s second specialist number 15, until the 69th minute of Ireland’s home clash against France.

“I heard a bit of a crunch alright and immediately thought, Oh jeez here we go again. When I stood up I could take the weight but when I went to actually produce a bit of force off it I couldn’t. I knew straight away it wasn’t good news.

“Ok there was a glimmer of hope I suppose until it was further examined. But yeah, I knew in my own head my World Cup that was it.

“I spent the week in Dublin with family and friends and my girlfriend. I was certainly in my own little world for the first few days and I’m sure it was hard enough for them to bear me. I wasn’t much craic."

Speaking at UL where the Munster squad were busy preparing for Saturday’s opening RaboDirectPRO12 match against the Dragons, Jones admitted it was great to back amongst teammates, even if it wasn’t in New Zealand.

“It’s great to come down here, because you can’t feel too sorry for yourself, the lads won’t let you.

“The slagging has started already. Marcus and Hayes were the first two I met, I barely said hello, and they’re already giving me grief.

“It’ll be Wally’s turn next week so I’ll have to join in there and get the heat off myself."

Unlike David Wallace however, Jones is still young enough to realistically dream about future World Cups and the 24-year-old is determined to get back in the game as soon as possible.

“I still have to come to terms now with the next couple of weeks. I think it’ll be tough now watching the games. From a personal view, you’re torn, because I want the team to succeed.

“I really do wish them the best but at the same time you really want to be out there. You prepared for so long to be out there.

"I've been down this road before I suppose, it never gets any easier is what I’d say. It’s just the same thing again. It’s a new challenge. I just have to hit it head-on and tackle every day as it comes.

“But look people are tested in all walks of life, every day. In my case it’s part and parcel of the game. I’ve had a lot of advice on how to deal with it. How you react to these tests determines your character."