LONDON ¨C 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 World Cup win over South Africa.
Jones led Japan to its greatest rugby triumph just over a week ago, a 34-32 win over the Springboks that prompted nearly 20 million Japanese to tune in to its 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 by pundits worldwide, but Jones was far less bullish about the 2019 World Cup hosts¡¯ prospects.
¡°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 told Kyodo News 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.¡±
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.¡±
After four years in charge, Jones will quit Japan after the World Cup to coach the Cape Town-based Stormers in the Southern Hemisphere¡¯s Super Rugby competition.
His departure also means he won¡¯t take up an appointment as director of Japan¡¯s fledgling Super Rugby team which is to join an expanded 18-team competition next season.
The new team is still unnamed, lacks a coach and has yet to unveil a playing list but Super Rugby¡¯s governing body SANZAR confirmed it in the draw for the 2016 season released on Monday.
¡°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.¡±
Nadolo hit with ban
London ¡ª World Cup chiefs handed Fiji star Nemani Nadolo a one-week ban on Monday for a dangerous tackle, ruling him out of a key clash against Wales on Thursday.
The ban against the 196 -cm giant further tarnished the Pacific Islanders¡¯ disciplinary record and was a huge loss for Fiji, with Nadolo having scored 16 of its 24 points so far at the tournament.
He was accused of carrying out a high tackle during Australia¡¯s 28-13 win last Wednesday. Rugby World Cup said Nadolo, 27, had denied the offense.
A statement said judicial officer Chris Quinlan ¡°was not satisfied¡± Nadolo had committed a spear tackle ¡ª where a player is lifted up and dropped head downward.
But he was found guilty of the lesser charge of a dangerous tackle. Quinlan said he had reduced a two-week ban to one week because of ¡°mitigating factors¡± including Nadolo¡¯s ¡°excellent disciplinary record.¡±
In two matches Fiji has now conceded 24 penalties and had three players yellow-carded, while Nadolo follows flanker Dominiko Waqaniburotu in being suspended for a week. Waqaniburotu admitted to a dangerous tip tackle on England¡¯s Jonny May.
Following losses to Australia and England, Fiji is desperate to salvage some pride against a Wales side buoyed by its stunning 28-25 victory over England inspired by a kicking master class from fly-half Dan Biggar.
Their woeful record has left the Fijians in no doubt they must get their discipline under control for the Pool A match against Wales or they will be punished by Biggar.
¡°Certainly their goal kicking is spot on, so we¡¯re going to have to be careful to be well-disciplined in our own half,¡± coach John McKee admitted on Sunday.
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