11 November 2026
Springboks assistant coach Felix Jones expects France to introduce fresh strategic elements in Friday’s upcoming Nations Championship clash at the Stade de France. Speaking to the media, Jones said that Les Bleus are one of the most innovative sides in world rugby and unlikely to rely solely on past formulas.
The fixture marks the latest encounter between the two sides since South Africa's narrow one-point victory in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final. That dramatic playoff match on French soil remains a major talking point across the host nation.
Jones acknowledged that the emotional fallout from that tournament still influences the buildup to this week's Test. The coaching staff expects a highly physical encounter driven by this competitive history.
“To be honest with you, I would imagine it’s still there,” said Jones when questioned about the lingering French desire for redemption. “It was such a significant game that I don’t think it goes away easily. A lot of that niggle is on the field, and it comes back to the intensity. But most of it stops there.”
Despite the fierce rivalry on the pitch, Jones highlighted the strong professional relationships that exist between the opposing coaching groups behind the scenes. He noted prior technical exchanges that established mutual respect between the setups long before this week's Parisian showdown.
“Fabien Galthié is one of the first coaches from outside Ireland that I got to know,” Jones explained. “He came over and visited me, Rassie and Jacques when we were at Munster, and Raphaël Ibañez did the same.”
The Springboks are treating the upcoming fixture with the same structural focus as any tier-one international, downplaying media narratives of a personal vendetta. However, the team remains fully aware of the clinical edge required to secure a result in Paris.
“So, there are some good relationships off the field, but when we’re on the field, we want to win,” Jones concluded. “We have no doubt they want to as well, given the results of the last one or two games.”