Japan may blossom or bust, says coach Eddie Jones
Breakthrough World Cup win over South Africa could end up being a wasted opportunity if Japan's governing body for rugby does not change
Japan coach Eddie Jones has fired a stunning broadside at the Asian nation's rugby board, accusing it of holding back the sport and casting doubt on its ability to build on the Brave Blossoms' breakthrough Rugby World Cup win over South Africa.
Jones led Japan to their greatest rugby triumph just over a week ago - a 34-32 win over the Springboks that prompted nearly 20 million Japanese to tune in for their next match against Scotland, a 45-10 defeat.
The win over South Africa was lauded as Japan's coming of age as a rugby nation but Jones was far less bullish about the 2019 World Cup hosts' prospects.
To keep improving, things have to change [for Japan]. I couldn't go back after the World Cup and do what I have done for the last four years because we are not going to improve enough within the current structures
"The legacy now is how the Japan Rugby Football Union uses the win and how strong they are in developing good coaching systems and improving infrastructure to go forward," the 55-year-old Australian said at Japan's team base in Warwick, England.
"This is like a balloon. It can be popped or it can be a real growth spurt. It's entirely the responsibility of the JRFU.
"To keep improving, things have to change. I couldn't go back after the World Cup and do what I have done for the last four years because we are not going to improve enough within the current structures.
"I know enough about rugby to know that," he said.
Jones, who coached Australia to the 2003 World Cup final, said the Brave Blossoms were not just a representative team of Japan's top players, but also had to act as a development team and a casualty ward for their injured.
"We've had to use it for rehab and keep injured players with us because we can't send them back [to their domestic teams]," he said. "All those things have to change if Japan wants to be a serious rugby country.
"One of the reasons I decided not to continue was because I didn't think those things could change."
The new team are still unnamed, lack a coach and have yet to unveil a playing list.
"I am surprised Super Rugby is going ahead [with them] but maybe there were legal ramifications," Jones said.
"It just hasn't got the right infrastructure in place to be successful and it could end up doing more harm than good."
