Felix Jones is one of the hottest coaching commodities in rugby, and Steve Borthwick is bursting to see what the Irishman can do with England.
Jones, who was forced to retire due to injury at the age of 28, has already amassed an elite CV in coaching, assisting Munster to a Pro12 final in 2017 as well as three successive Champions Cup semi-final appearances, before being drafted into the South Africa coaching set-up by Rassie Erasmus, and contributing to back-to-back World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023.
Still just 36, the former Ireland international is starting a new chapter in his career in the coming weeks, linking up with England as Steve Borthwick's new defence coach, where he will be replacing Kevin Sinfield.
And the England head coach says he's already been blown away by the ex-Munster full-back's attention to detail.
"He's one of the most intense people I have ever met, and if I can tell you that, it's saying something," Borthwick said at the launch of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations.
"Meeting with him, being on the phone with him, having a conversation with him for an hour, and not getting a word in because he has so much rugby knowledge, it is unreal. And a work ethic that is astounding.
"And I have seen people who have worked very hard. This guy, I don't know whether he sleeps. Because the amount of material that he works through, the amount he sends me, what he talks about. So he has the work ethic."
Jones' specific role as defence coach was only confirmed at the start of January, but his move from South Africa to England had been well flagged, with the RFU confirming his appointment shortly after the conclusion of the 2023 Six Nations.
And Borthwick (above) continued his glowing praise of his new assistant.
"He has the knowledge, understanding of areas of the game. We were sat the other day looking at some stuff on his laptop, where he was picking apart an area of the game, picking it apart, an area of contact, and showing things that I don’t think I’ve ever heard any other coach discuss.
"So I think he has an incredible work ethic and that knowledge is groundbreaking that he has.
"When he presented to the players last week, the room has that deathly silence. When a coach is presenting up front, I usually come down the sides just to be able to scan across the players.
"[They were] Hardly blinking, and transfixed by what he is saying. That ability to do that is superb. So work ethic, incredible knowledge and grasp of concepts and he has the players’ attention."
After a mixed first season in charge, the expectation has grown around England heading into the 2024 championship.
Borthwick's side finished fourth in last year's Six Nations with just two wins, and followed that up with a worrying run of results leading up the the World Cup.
But after getting the World Cup off to a positive start with a win against Argentina in Marseille; the former champions made it all the way to the semi-final, where they came within a whisker of defeating the eventual champions South Africa.
"The expectations of supporters are a lot higher than what the team have actually achieved – and quite rightly," Borthwick added.
"The team is really well aware that we haven't performed in the Six Nations for a period of time.
"Ireland and France have been the dominant teams and everybody is trying to compete with those two sides.
"What's happened in the past is that lots is talked about England prior to the tournament, but England haven’t then achieved.
In addition to the coaching reshuffle, England's squad has also changed dramatically since the World Cup.
Owen Farrell has stepped away from Test rugby ahead of his move to Racing 92 this summer, with his Saracens teammate Jamie George installed as captain, while veterans like Billy Vunipola and Kyle Sinckler have been dropped.
In addition to recalling Henry Slade and Luke Cowan Dickie, their Exeter teammate Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is one of seven uncapped players in the group, who will face Italy away in the opening round of the championship next week.
"Our intent is to hit the ground running in Rome the way we want with the intensity that we want to, which again is something that England have not done in recent years.
"At times we have not jumped into this tournament and have been caught in that first game.
"We want this to be a different mindset for England, a different way of approaching the game and the tournament.
"We're taking a different approach because we need different results to previous tournaments."
Follow every Ireland game in the Guinness Six Nations on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app, or listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
Watch live coverage of Ireland v Wales (24 February) and England v Ireland (9 March) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
