Jones challenges players to inspire future stars by toppling South Africa

Eddie Jones has challenged his England players to inspire a nation by toppling South Africa in tomorrow’s World Cup final.

Jones believes that victory over the Springboks at a sold-out 69,000 International Stadium Yokohama has the ability to bring joy to the country and fire the imagination of future Red Rose stars.

And when England run out for their fourth World Cup Final, a match they enter as favourites, they will have instructions from their head coach to be fearless i n their final assault on the Webb Ellis Trophy.

“The players can inspire a whole country now, they can i nspire a sporting community,” former Japan coach Jones said.

“That’s the opportunity they’ve got and all the messages we’ve seen back in England show that there’s a bit of a rugby fever going on.

“Now mums are telling kids ‘play rugby’, be the next Kyle Sinckler, be the next Ellis Genge, and that’s the opportunity they’ve got.

“It changes how the country feels about itself for a period of time – it might change at the next general election – but for a period of time it changes how people feel about themselves and that’s the greatest joy.

“If I look back at Japan and look at the growth of rugby in Japan from what we did in 2015, i t ’s spectacular.

“People in Japan love rugby now, they didn’t before. You’ve got this opportunity to change people’s lives through the ability to play rugby and that’s a gift.

“We will play with no fear. Play with no fear. How fantastic is it for the young bunch of guys we have?

“Every sporting person out there is looking at the game.”

Eddie Jones put some Japanese junior players through their paces.