18 May,2014
Jones happy with result but not 2nd half
INCHEON, South Korea (May 17) – Japan head coach Eddie Jones said his team had done what they had set out to do as they picked up their third win in this year’s Asian 5 Nations.
“We set ourselves the target of winning the game in the first 20 minutes and we did that,” Jones said after the Brave Blossoms had beaten South Korea 62-5 at Munhak Stadium. “I am completely happy with the result.”
However he admitted that he was “not happy with the way we played in the second half,” after the Koreans fought back to dominate the latter part of the second stanza.
“The concentration levels of the team and individuals dropped,. Our decision making wasn’t great and individuals were making simple mistakes at the end.”
Jones said that although his side wasn’t really tested, he believed they were heading in the right direction as they gear up to face Hong Kong next week, in a game that will decide which side automatically represents Asia at Rugby World Cup 2015.
“Things got a bit more serious today and they will be even more serious next week,” he said. “All we have to do next week is win. We don’t have to play fantastic rugby, though it would be nice as there will be a big crowd. But if we have to grind out a 12-6 win then that’s what we will do.”
Jones had special praise for fullback Ayumu Goromaru, who kicked seven conversions and a penalty to take him to 426 points from 36 tests, surpassing Keiji Hirose as Japan’s all-time top points scorer.
“It’s a fantastic achievement,” Jones said. “Hirose was a world class kicker so for Goro to beat him is fantastic.
Japan captain Michael Leitch agreed with Jones that the side had dropped off the pace in the second half, but he was hopeful the team would be able to use it to their advantage.
“In the second half our communication was not good and that’s a real problem the way we play,” he said. “The links between the players weren’t good. But it’s good we found the problem now before we play Hong Kong. If we can play like we train then we will put them away nice and proper.”
