'When I heard he was coming back, it put a big smile on my face' - Eben Etzebeth on return of Felix Jones

“We play in a good spirit, we’ve never talked bad about other teams. We always try and play in a good spirit, and hopefully things can just be between the four lines. Are we treated fairly? I don’t think so.”

IRISH IN CAMP: Eben Etzebeth was delighted when Felix Jones returned to the Springbox camp.  Picture: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Eben Etzebeth believes the strong Irish connection within the South African set-up could serve them well as they build towards this Saturday’s encounter between the same two nations at the Aviva Stadium.

Since the summer of 2024, ex-Munster and Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery has been part of the Springboks coaching team as their defence specialist – having previously worked under Rassie Erasmus during his stint with the southern province. Flannery’s former Munster team-mate Felix Jones played a key role behind the scenes as South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and 2023, and even though he subsequently took up a position with England in the wake of the latter success, the Dubliner returned to the Springboks camp as an assistant coach earlier this year.