As another World Cup comes into focus, we spoke with the man who had his dreams of representing Ireland in the 2011 competition dashed
Felix Jones’ introduction to Test rugby was mad-cap – three Ireland caps in 14 days and a guaranteed spot on the plane to the World Cup in New Zealand. Veteran fullback Geordan Murphy knew he would not be bowing out at the highest level when he was selected to face Connacht in an Ireland XV warm-up game.
Jones had just finished a league-winning season with Munster and looked assured in his three international outings until a devastating knee injury against England, in August 2011. Six caps [three starts] have followed in the past three and a half years. Jones has yet to feature in a Six Nations campaign but is confident a solid outing for the Wolfhounds, on Friday, will impress his claims upon Joe Schmidt.
‘I think that would be fair to say [I would be expecting more caps at this stage], you know. Obviously, I want to accumulate as many caps as possible. The reality of things is that, if you take an injury and you’re out for eight months, then five months here and six months there, it really stutters your career. I’m not trying to make excuses – this is just what’s happened in my career.
‘I have to put those things behind me and as soon as I do, I have to get back into it and get back to that level as soon as possible. Look, it’s something that I don’t think a huge amount about. That’s just the reality of it.’
Jones dismisses the notion that his mental resolve is any stronger than other players that have battled back from injuries. He says, ‘People may say that about anyone that comes back from an injury but this is my job. What’s my other option, you know, to pack it in? It’s not an option for me. You just get on with it.’
Wing option
Jones scored two tries from fullback, against Georgia, last November and impressed Schmidt enough as a winger, in training drills, that he pushed Munster teammate Simon Zebo mighty close for a starting role against Australia.
He comments, ‘You’d have to ask Joe (Schmidt) how close it was (with Simon Zebo), really. I just want to push. Obviously, I was very disappointed not to start, as every player wants to start. No-one’s going to come in here and say they are happy to sit on the bench. Having said that, you’ll never say you are disappointed being involved, or play, with Ireland. As I’ve said, to get the chance and be able to slot in and do your job is the main thing.’
Jones adds, ‘It is massively important to be able to fill more than one job. It is important and it’s the same as any back three player, guys
have got to be able to able to… apart from starting players, you’re actually moving around a lot and covering the same positions so you
need to be able to do both [wing and fullback].’
