Imagine the scene: Japan turning over the Springboks at the grand stage of Wembley Stadium next Saturday. Eddie Jones, the vibrant Japan coach, is not just dreaming; he’s practically placing bets on making rugby history. Fresh from a narrow defeat to the Wallabies in Tokyo, Jones’s squad is gearing up to repeat their shock 2015 World Cup victory over South Africa in what could be a scene-stealing encore in London.
Despite the recent 19-15 loss to Australia, where the Brave Blossoms showed sparks of brilliance in a rain-soaked comeback, Jones is bullish about their chances against the formidable Springboks. “I think this team is a better team than the 2015 team, I think they’ve got the potential to be better,” declared Jones, who returned last year for a second stint at the helm of the Japanese side. His confidence is palpable: “We’re going there thinking we can win. South Africa are like everyone, you get in their face, put pressure on them and they can make mistakes. That’s what we intend to do.”
“Imagine beating South Africa at Wembley. That would be iconic.”
Japan's performance against the Wallabies, despite the loss, was a testament to their growing prowess and resilience. After a passive start, where Jones admitted his team looked “like spectators” for the first 30 minutes, they rallied impressively. “We don’t go away, we stay in there, we kept going,” Jones praised, highlighting the youthful team’s tenacity. The second-half display was particularly strong, signaling that Japan can indeed “take on the best in the world and compete.”
The stakes are high, and the ambitions even higher, as Jones sets his sights not just on a victory against South Africa but on a full-throttle performance worthy of the game’s grandest stages. “We want to show the game that we played in the second half for the full 80 minutes against South Africa,” he said, setting the bar for his squad.
Beyond the Springboks, Japan's tour includes matchups against Ireland, Wales, and Georgia, marking a rigorous test of their mettle and ambition. If Jones’s brigade can channel their second-half vigor into a consistent full-match performance, Wembley might just witness another historic upset, one that could very well rival the spectacle of a Coldplay concert at the same venue.
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Imagine the scene: Japan turning over the Springboks at the grand stage of Wembley Stadium next Saturday. Eddie Jones, the vibrant Japan coach, is not just dreaming; he’s practically placing bets on making rugby history. Fresh from a narrow defeat to the Wallabies in Tokyo, Jones’s squad is gearing up to repeat their shock 2015 World Cup victory over South Africa in what could be a scene-stealing encore in London.
Despite the recent 19-15 loss to Australia, where the Brave Blossoms showed sparks of brilliance in a rain-soaked comeback, Jones is bullish about their chances against the formidable Springboks. “I think this team is a better team than the 2015 team, I think they’ve got the potential to be better,” declared Jones, who returned last year for a second stint at the helm of the Japanese side. His confidence is palpable: “We’re going there thinking we can win. South Africa are like everyone, you get in their face, put pressure on them and they can make mistakes. That’s what we intend to do.”
“Imagine beating South Africa at Wembley. That would be iconic.”
Japan's performance against the Wallabies, despite the loss, was a testament to their growing prowess and resilience. After a passive start, where Jones admitted his team looked “like spectators” for the first 30 minutes, they rallied impressively. “We don’t go away, we stay in there, we kept going,” Jones praised, highlighting the youthful team’s tenacity. The second-half display was particularly strong, signaling that Japan can indeed “take on the best in the world and compete.”
The stakes are high, and the ambitions even higher, as Jones sets his sights not just on a victory against South Africa but on a full-throttle performance worthy of the game’s grandest stages. “We want to show the game that we played in the second half for the full 80 minutes against South Africa,” he said, setting the bar for his squad.
Beyond the Springboks, Japan's tour includes matchups against Ireland, Wales, and Georgia, marking a rigorous test of their mettle and ambition. If Jones’s brigade can channel their second-half vigor into a consistent full-match performance, Wembley might just witness another historic upset, one that could very well rival the spectacle of a Coldplay concert at the same venue.