Jones happy with performance

(c) 2013, JRFU, photo by RJP H.Nagaoka. All Rights Reserved
FUKUOKA (April 20) – Japan coach Eddie Jones was naturally pleased following his side’s record-breaking win over the Philippines, but warned there was still plenty of room for improvement.

“It was a good performance first up,” he said after the 121-0 win in the HSBC Asian Five Nations, the highest ever score in the competition. “But it’s always difficult to tell given the quality of the opposition. We have been working on getting physically stronger and you saw a little of that today.”

Despite the dreadful conditions, Japan ran in 18 tries with 13 different players touching, including the four debutants.

“That was the third biggest winning score ever for Japan and to do it in conditions where the ball is like a piece of soap is not a bad effort,” Jones said. “On a good day we could have scored 160 points, I have no doubt.”

Kenki Fukuoka and Male Sa’a both scored two tries on debut and Jones said he was pleased in the way they had slotted into the squad.

“He’s got speed. He’s got Bryan Habana pace,” Jones said of Fukuoka. “As long as he keeps on learning and focuses on improving then he has the chance to be a very good player.”

And of Ma’u, Jones said: “I thought he was very generous to his teammates. He has fitted in very well and gives us a different attacking ability at 13.”

He was also full of praise for Harumichi Tatekawa, who was another to finish the day with two tries to his name.

“The great thing with him at (inside centre) is the balance he gives us with his running and passing,” said Jones. “There are few 12s in international rugby that can run and pass with the same ability. He really gives us the chance to play the way we want to play.”

Volcanoes coach Jarred Hodges, meanwhile, said his team started well but were in the end no match for Japan.

“Japan are the benchmark in Asian rugby and showed us what it takes to be at that level,” he said. “They were too big, too strong and too fast. “We worked very hard for the first 30 minutes. But we missed a couple of kicks that could have made it 10-6. After that though Japan played to their strengths. They were a class above.”