‘No room for sentiment’

– England coach Eddie Jones (above) has no intention of getting sentimental when his side face 2019 World Cup hosts Japan at Twickenham today despite guiding the Asian nation to their greatest rugby union triumph.

Jones was in charge of Japan when they beat South Africa 3432 in Brighton at the 2015 World Cup in England – arguably the biggest upset in the history of the sport.

But Jones’ connections to Japan run far deeper than coaching stints with both the Brave Blossoms and the Suntory club.

The Australia-born Jones is the son of a Japanese-American mother, while his wife is Japanese.

However, Jones has insisted both he and Japan had moved on since their memorable triumph three years ago.

“Japan are progressing really nicely. The team has regenerated – there are only five or six players left from the team that I coached and they’re the outstanding players like Michael Leitch and Kenki Fukuoka,” Jones said.

“I think Japan are benefiting from playing Super Rugby. Previously Japanese sides were happy to get beaten, they were the Brave Blossoms, but now this new generation of Japanese players believe they can win and that makes them a much stronger team.”

As for his wider feelings towards Japan and Japanese rugby, Jones added: “It doesn’t disappear but I’ve never, by nationality, called myself Japanese because I was brought up as an Australian.

“Japan was part of our family, and marrying a Japanese, having a dog that only speaks Japanese, it’s a big part of the family.

“But this is a serious Test match and you don’t allow those things to cloud your thoughts,” he said. –