So, a top coach walks into a pub …

This is a heads-up for Rugby World Cup fans: after Japan beat the No 2 ranked team, Ireland, on Saturday, a story is emerging regarding the historic “upset result” — a story that could turn the rugby world on its head. It involves England head coach Eddie Jones.

There is a huge Irish subculture in Japan. The traditionally stoic Japanese have developed a fondness for the Irish culture, with its warmth, love of music and fiercely competitive sporting spirit.

Traditional Irish pubs have, in a few short years, proliferated across Japan’s major cities, becoming a multibillion-yen industry where locals dress up in Irish rugby jerseys and have a whale of a time, singing Irish rugby songs in English with an Irish accent. All of this was unbeknownst to the Irish sporting fraternity until the run-up to the Rugby World Cup.

Enter Jones (his mom is Japanese and it’s rumoured that he himself is fond of “the wearin’ o’ the green”).

It seems he brokered a deal between the Japanese directorate for sports and Ireland’s sports ministry to dispense with the Hong Kong entrepreneur “franchisor” of said pubs.

There is now a “trustworthy” undertaking in place from a group, licensed by the Irish sports ministry, with a “solid” guarantee that only authentic Irish clothing, rugby jerseys, paraphernalia etcetera will be sold and only genuine stout and Irish whiskey served in the soonto-be “authentic” Japanese-Irish pubs.

Where does Jones come in? I ask the obvious question: have you ever seen the Irish lose a game of rugby with so much passion? I rest my case!

Sandy Johnston, Nelson Mandela Bay