Eddie Jones hoping for sweltering conditions when Japan faces wounded Wales
Eddie Jones said Thursday he wants Japan to "run Wales off their feet" in two tests next month while conceding he had made mistakes in an underwhelming return to coaching the Brave Blossoms.
A wounded Wales heads to Japan having lost its last 17 tests — a record for a Tier One country in the professional era — including a humiliating 68-14 thrashing by England in Cardiff.
The pugnacious Australian Jones is also looking for a morale-boosting win after mixed results since returning to lead Japan at the start of last year.
The former Wallabies and England head coach said it was "a good time and a bad time" to face Wales, which will be missing Tomos Williams and Jac Morgan, who are on British and Irish Lions duty.
"Obviously having 17 losses in a row dents the confidence of the team and as a result they've only got two Lions players," Jones said after announcing his squad for a training camp ahead of the games.
"Normally on a tour like this you'd expect eight or nine players to be out, so they'll be basically full-strength."
Wales will again be led by caretaker coach Matt Sherratt, who took over midway through the Six Nations following Warren Gatland's unsuccessful second stint in charge.
Jones predicted that the "law of averages" meant Wales' losing streak would end soon.
But he said the heat and humidity in Kitakyushu and Kobe could give Japan an advantage.
"We're hoping that it's a nice hot day, the sun comes out, and we can really run Wales off their feet," said Jones, who first led Japan from 2012 to 2015.
Japan has won four games and lost seven since Jones came back, and was beaten by 40 points or more by New Zealand, France and England last year.
The 65-year-old admitted he had made mistakes.
"Coming back to Japan, I didn't understand how much Japanese rugby had changed, how the players' thinking had changed," he said.
"Did I coach well last year? No, I don't think I coached very well last year, 100%. So I've taken that on board."
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Japan Times
10 hours ago
- Japan Times
Under shogi's shadow, Tokyo's chess lovers make their move
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That's thanks in no small part to the amateur enthusiasts that make up Tokyo Check Mates (TCM). 'Honestly, it was more or less an accident,' says Michael Hold, the organizer of TCM, of the group's origin in 2019. 'I met someone to play with in Shibuya, and we found the Aldgate. We also found some other chess players, and agreed to meet the week after. And over the next few months, it became a regular thing.' TCM now meets every Wednesday evening from 7:30 p.m. at the Aldgate. Usually, you can expect a dozen or so players, but some nights see up to 20. As I sit down to a game with Hold, 42, his fluency with the pieces becomes clear as his vicious attack rips through my kingside. But despite the comprehensive win, Hold chooses to focus on what he sees as most important to TCM. 'For me, the biggest goal of TCM was to create a casual environment for all types of chess players to enjoy the game,' says Hold. 'We're about chess but also social interaction.' 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Japan Times
a day ago
- Japan Times
Eddie Jones hoping for sweltering conditions when Japan faces wounded Wales
Eddie Jones said Thursday he wants Japan to "run Wales off their feet" in two tests next month while conceding he had made mistakes in an underwhelming return to coaching the Brave Blossoms. A wounded Wales heads to Japan having lost its last 17 tests — a record for a Tier One country in the professional era — including a humiliating 68-14 thrashing by England in Cardiff. The pugnacious Australian Jones is also looking for a morale-boosting win after mixed results since returning to lead Japan at the start of last year. The former Wallabies and England head coach said it was "a good time and a bad time" to face Wales, which will be missing Tomos Williams and Jac Morgan, who are on British and Irish Lions duty. "Obviously having 17 losses in a row dents the confidence of the team and as a result they've only got two Lions players," Jones said after announcing his squad for a training camp ahead of the games. "Normally on a tour like this you'd expect eight or nine players to be out, so they'll be basically full-strength." Wales will again be led by caretaker coach Matt Sherratt, who took over midway through the Six Nations following Warren Gatland's unsuccessful second stint in charge. Jones predicted that the "law of averages" meant Wales' losing streak would end soon. But he said the heat and humidity in Kitakyushu and Kobe could give Japan an advantage. "We're hoping that it's a nice hot day, the sun comes out, and we can really run Wales off their feet," said Jones, who first led Japan from 2012 to 2015. Japan has won four games and lost seven since Jones came back, and was beaten by 40 points or more by New Zealand, France and England last year. The 65-year-old admitted he had made mistakes. "Coming back to Japan, I didn't understand how much Japanese rugby had changed, how the players' thinking had changed," he said. "Did I coach well last year? No, I don't think I coached very well last year, 100%. So I've taken that on board."
Japan Today
a day ago
- Japan Today
Jones tells Japan to run wounded Wales 'off their feet' in the heat
rugby union Eddie Jones said Thursday he wants Japan to "run Wales off their feet" in two tests next month while conceding he had made mistakes in an underwhelming return to coaching the Brave Blossoms. A wounded Wales head to Japan having lost their last 17 tests -- a record for a Tier One country in the professional era -- including a humiliating 68-14 thrashing by England in Cardiff. The pugnacious Australian Jones is also looking for a morale-boosting win after mixed results since he returned to lead Japan at the start of last year. The former Wallabies and England head coach said it was "a good time and a bad time" to face Wales, who will be missing Tomos Williams and Jac Morgan to British and Irish Lions duty. "Obviously having 17 losses in a row dents the confidence of the team and as a result they've only got two Lions players," Jones said after announcing his squad for a training camp ahead of the games. "Normally on a tour like this you'd expect eight or nine players to be out, so they'll be basically full-strength." Wales will again be led by caretaker coach Matt Sherratt, who took over midway through the Six Nations following Warren Gatland's unsuccessful second stint in charge. Jones predicted that the "law of averages" meant Wales' losing streak would end soon. But he said the heat and humidity in Kitakyushu and Kobe could give Japan an advantage. "We're hoping that it's a nice hot day, the sun comes out and we can really run Wales off their feet," said Jones, who first led Japan in 2012-2015. Japan have won four games and lost seven since Jones came back, and were beaten by 40 points or more by New Zealand, France and England last year. The 65-year-old admitted that he had made mistakes. "Coming back to Japan, I didn't understand how much Japanese rugby had changed, how the players' thinking had changed," he said. "Did I coach well last year? No, I don't think I coached very well last year, 100 percent. So I've taken that on board." © 2025 AFP
