Japan must beat global giants to earn rugby world’s respect, says head coach Eddie Jones
Head coach wants his side to change minds as they prepare for Tests against Australia and South Africa
Coach Eddie Jones said on Thursday that Japan do not get the respect they deserve on or off the pitch and are out to change minds in Tests against some of the world’s top rugby teams.
Japan face Australia in Tokyo this month before travelling to Europe to take on world champions South Africa, Ireland, Wales and Georgia.
Japan stunned the Springboks at the 2015 World Cup in Jones’ first spell as head coach, and the team followed that up by reaching the quarter-finals as hosts four years later.
But Jones said they still do not get the credit they deserve and said the only way to earn it is “by beating bigger opponents”.
“I think people think we play well for 20 minutes and then go away,” the Australian said as he named a 38-man training squad to prepare for the Tests.
“We want to show that we’re a team that can stick in there, can hang in there, can fight every moment and take their opponent right to the last drop. That’s how we’ll win respect.”