Jones hopeful Japan can go one better than last week

TOKYO (June 14) Japan coach Eddie Jones said his team were in very good condition and hoping to make history Saturday when they take on Wales at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.

“It’s a massive opportunity for us,” he said following Friday’s final practice session. “The big thing is to step up to the mark again. We need to give everything to see how good we are. We realise Wales will be better but hopefully we will be too.”

Jones said the key to Japan beating a top 10 nation in an official test for the first time would be getting off to a good start.

“We need to get out of the blocks quickly, get a lead and then put them under pressure. If we had extended the pressure we had them under last week for 10 more minutes then we would have won. But we let them off the hook.”

The Japan coach said he expected Wales to kick a lot more, especially as rain is forecast for the nation’s capital.

“They did that successfully last week in the second half. So it’s important we control the set piece and gain good field position. If we can do that, we can put reassure on them and then turn that into points.”

Japan centre Craig Wing said the team realised last week’s 22-18 defeat was a case of missed opportunities.

“We have to play better than last week when we left points on the board,” he said. “They (Wales) have made changes so it shows they take us seriously and they will be on their game from the start.”

Wing said the players know they have the chance to make history.

“It will be huge for Japanese rugby as a whole if we can get a win. It will also give us a spring in the step,” ahead of next week’s two IRB Pacific Nations Cup games.