Jones bounces back

JAPAN coach Eddie Jones said he was ‘‘fine’’ and expected to make a full recovery after a stroke put him in hospital for nearly 40 days.

Jones was facing the media on Friday, less than a week after leaving hospital following the stroke which gave him mobility problems down the left side.

‘‘I have coached officially for 17 years, and it was the first time I actually had breaks from coaching,’’ he told a press conference in Tokyo. ‘‘I am fine. I will be better than I was before,’’ added the 53-year-old.

Jones spoke clearly and moved his limbs and fingers smoothly during his appearance, in which he spoke animatedly about his plans for Japan. The former Australia boss was forced to sit out Japan’s 54-6 home defeat to New Zealand after being taken ill on October 15 and placed in intensive care.

Jones said it was also ‘‘frustrating’’ to watch Japan’s three-Test European tour from his hospital bed.

‘‘It really reinforced the fact that we got to play Japanese- style rugby. That’s a possession-based game,’’ Jones said. ‘‘We got to be better at attacking.’’

Jones aims to lift Japan from 14th to Top 10 ranking.