Jones names unchanged squad for August games

TOKYO (Aug. 7) – Japan coach Eddie Jones named an unchanged 39-man squad for the upcoming game against a World XV and two-test series against Uruguay.

 

“We decided not to cut any players as we still have players coming back from long-tern injuries,” he said. “We will decide the final 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup just before the deadline.”

 

Of those injured, Jones said Shinya Makabe “was coming along well and I expect him to play sometime during the next three games.”

 

Amanaki Lelei Mafi was “progressing well but unlikely to play…He is a special player that requires special circumstances. He suffered one of the most serious injuries you can suffer as a rugby player so we are talking with NTT Communications, whose support has been fantastic, about whether his warm-up games and with us or a less stressful environment.”

 

Three players – Keita Inagaki, Yu Tamura and Michael Broadhurst – were injured during the Pacific Nations Cup and Jones said “We are not sure how long their rehab will be.”

 

Looking back on the PNC, Jones said the results were “disappointing but as I have said all along they were practice matches as we prepare for the World Cup.”

 

Jones said the set piece was progressing well with the scrum back to where it was two years ago, while the line-out performed well except in the game against Tonga.

 

“We didn’t get our attacking game going but I expect that will happen over the next five weeks. We also missed too many one-on-one tackles, though overall our defensive shape was better. And the breakdown is still an area we need to work on.”

 

Jones said he would not playing his best XV until Japan took on South Africa in their opening game at the Rugby World Cup but he did say the upcoming games would see him test a number of different combinations.

 

“I am happy with the team’s progress and we still aim to peak on Sept. 19,” he said.