Jones looks to end A5N in style

DUBAI (May 09) – Japan head coach Eddie Jones said Thursday he was not worried about any lack of motivation ahead of his side’s final game in this year’s HSBC Asian 5 Nations.

Jones has named a side that contains 12 changes from the team that beat South Korea last weekend to clinched its sixth straight A5N title, but he said competition for places among his squad means no one can ease up, even though the Brave Blossoms have scored more than a hundred points in each if their last two games against the United Arab Emirates.

“These guys are playing for spots in the Pacific Nations Cup,” he explained following the traditional captain’s run on the eve of the test against at the Sevens. “There should be no lack of motivation. We should be having to cage them up tomorrow. If there is a problem then we have picked the wrong players.”

Jones said he had told his players there were three areas he was targeting.

“We need to make sure we keep our attacking shape,” he said. “We need to make sure we have 15 players on their feet as much as possible in defence and we need our clean out to be as accurate as possible.”

Jones said his team was in excellent condition but admitted the conditions (both in terms of the temperature and Japan’s arrival the day before) had meant he had given them a relatively light session on Thursday.

“The playing conditions are fantastic but it’s 30C so we have to be careful with the players.”

Local coach Duncan Hall, meanwhile, admitted his team were up against it.

“In the last two A5N games between the UAE and Japan, we’ve lost by over 100 points [106-3 away in 2012 and 111-0 at home in 2011]. We’d prefer to keep it less than that this time. In that way I suppose it is damage limitation,” he told local media.

Japan has already clinched the A5N and they will be presented with the trophy Friday, before they fly home to prepare for the upcoming PNC and two-test series with Wales.