EDDIE Jones has hailed the impact Steve Borthwick has had with England ahead of the first official Test between the Brave Blossoms and England on Japanese soil. Jones will kick off his second spell in charge of Japan by going head-tohead with his old protégé in Tokyo on June 22. Matches against Italy, Georgia and the Maori All Blacks will follow.
Far from breeding contempt, Jones’ familiarity with Borthwick’s coaching style has left him with nothing but respect for the man who succeeded him at Twickenham and was his assistant with both England and Japan.
“England are three years ahead of us in terms of development,” Jones said. “Steve has had the team for three years, they have got progressively stronger under him. He has done a fantastic job.
“We know what they will bring: a strong setpiece game, a strong kicking game and they are playing a type of South African defence now.
“It is going to be a great challenge to play against them and we are going to have to play really well. But you never know what can happen on a hot day in Tokyo.”
Borthwick went into the last World Cup with a 50:50 win/loss record but the team made steady progress under him while in France, surprising everyone by taking home the bronze medal.
While the straight-jacketed style of play seen from England in France was loosened during the Six Nations, the Tokyo meeting should provide a fascinating contrast of styles.
Jones is excited by the challenge of imposing his brand of “Cho-soku (super-fast) Rugby” on England. He said: “We feel the need to play in a different style, a Japanese style of play, and we will be implementing that from day one. It will be difficult to learn but we want to see the first signs of it against England.”
Jones has included 12 debutants in his squad, including two university students, so it may be a fairly callow team that takes to the field against England as Japan look to build towards RWC 2027.
However, 35-year-old former captain Michael Leitch is one of the survivors
