Eben Etzebeth admitted he couldn't hide his delight when he heard that Felix Jones was rejoining the Springboks set-up.
The former Ireland and Munster full-back was part of the World Cup-winning coaching ticket with South Africa in 2019 and 2023 before he left for a short spell with England.
The 38-year-old never really settled in the Red Rose set-up and it was announced last February that he would be returning as an assistant with the Springboks.
"Yeah, when I heard he's coming back, it put a big smile on my face," said Etzebeth, who is in line for his 140th cap in Saturday’s Test against Ireland at Aviva Stadium (5.40pm).
"We all know the quality of the guy and the work ethic so it's great to have him back as well."
Former Ireland and Munster hooker Jerry Flannery, who joined up in late 2023 is also an assistant coach with the back-to-back world champions, while Kerryman Paddy Sullivan is their performance analyst.
"[It’s] great [working with Jerry]," added the 34-year-old lock, who sat out Saturday's 32-14 win over Italy.
"Like I said, the whole coaching staff, we've got quite a few foreigners in our group, but we don't really see them as foreigners anymore.
"We see them as part of the Springboks, and they really make a difference. We really get along with all of them.
'Quality all over the field…it will be a proper Test match' – South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth on what he expects from Ireland in Saturday’s clash at Aviva Stadium pic.twitter.com/kVC3xQZWzR
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 17, 2025
"Yeah, I think they've got a bit more insight [into the Irish team].
"We’ve got RG [Snyman, Leinster] and Jean Kleyn [Munster], so they will say a few things in the meetings just to help us prepare.
"I mean it's professional rugby. Ireland will be smart and probably change some things, but yeah, it's nice to have that bit of insight."
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick was also asked about the Irish slant on their coaching ticket.
"We normally used to focus on what we do best," he said. "I think those guys have helped us in the sense of also understanding how the other teams operate.
"A lot of those guys they have played with some of the players. They know also how the Irish operate and some of our players also have helped us with that information.
"If I have to talk about Felix, working with him for the first time in 2019 when we went to Japan, probably never seen a coach that worked that hard like him.
"Jerry is just a guy who puts his heart in everything what he does.
"Some of them have left their families to help us in South Africa so a lot of sacrifice from their side but once again those guys they are part of us, they are a team. As Eben said, we don’t see them as foreigners anymore.
"They are proudly Springbok coaches and they are part of our family."
Watch Ireland v South Africa in the Quilter Nations Series on Saturday from 4.30pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
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