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Japan head coach Eddie Jones is drawing inspiration from Italy as the Brave Blossoms attempt to secure a landmark victory over England at Allianz Stadium on Saturday. Jones, who was dismissed by England in December 2022 after a defeat to South Africa, aims to apply pressure on his successor Steve Borthwick.
Chasing an Unprecedented Upset
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Jones described his team as massive underdogs. He noted that England might be slightly distracted with a fixture against New Zealand scheduled for the following week.
Japan have lost all six of their previous Test meetings against England, including a 54-19 defeat two years ago. However, Italy and Fiji have both secured maiden victories over England during Borthwick’s tenure, giving the visitors a blueprint for success.
The Pressure of English Media Scrutiny
Jones suggested that England’s players are uniquely vulnerable to external pressure due to intense media attention. Despite recent reports of friction within the squad, England responded with a 45-22 victory over Australia.
Jones praised Borthwick as an intelligent and outstanding coach whom he holds in the highest regard. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the overwhelming media noise in England can weigh heavily on the team.
Squad Selections and Future Prospects
England back row Henry Pollock is tipped for a second international start following a strong performance off the bench against Australia. While Pollock has maintained an impressive try-scoring record, Jones cautioned against reading too much into those statistics given the game situation.
Meanwhile, Japan will be without their standout 21-year-old fly-half Ryunosuke Ito. The university student is required to play in a collegiate competition for Meiji University, forcing him to miss Japan’s northern hemisphere Nations Championship matches before he joins top-flight club Suntory Sungoliath next season.
The Nations Championship fixture between England and Japan kicks off at 16:40 GMT on Saturday at Allianz Stadium.
