Jones: Send best wishes to Warren for Wales play-off
Enjoy the battle for third place, coach tells rival Injury boost with Farrell and May likely to be fit
Eddie Jones has hit back at Warren Gatland after the Wales coach questioned whether England would be able to replicate the intensity of their victory over New Zealand when they face South Africa in the World Cup final on Saturday.
Gatland, speaking after his team had been beaten 19-16 by South Africa in the second semi-final in Yokohama on Sunday, said: “We have seen in previous World Cups that teams sometimes play their final in semi-finals and don’t always turn up for a final. So it will be interesting to see how England are next week and it could be a good game.”
Jones, when asked for his view on Gatland’s comments, replied with a smile: “Well, guys, can you just send my best wishes to Warren to make sure he enjoys the third and fourth-place play-off.”
Wales face the All Blacks in the bronze final at 9am on Friday, 24 hours before Saturday’s final – Gatland’s final match as head coach after 12 years in charge.
Meanwhile, England have been handed a huge boost with the news that Jonny May looks on course to be fit for the final, as he recovers from a dead leg sustained in the 19-7 victory over New Zealand.
The wing also struggled with a hamstring injury last week ahead of the All Blacks’ clash, while captain Owen Farrell suffered a dead leg in Saturday’s encounter.
“He is looking pretty good,” said Jones. “Look, we had a walk through this morning and we had to tell Jonny to slow down a bit. He is probably in better condition than he was last week at this stage. Immeasurably better.
“Owen is a bit sore, but he will be fine. We have got a few others carrying bumps and bruises because it was a tough old game.”
Ben Spencer, the Saracens scrum-half, has arrived in Tokyo as an injury replacement for Willi Heinz, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury after his cameo from the bench on Saturday. Spencer now faces a whirlwind week to recover from jet lag and get himself up to speed with England’s game plan and his own physical preparation for the final.
“It is tough for Willi,” Jones said. “He has been a great contributor and a very well-liked member of the squad. He was in tears in the dressing room, but he has collected himself and now knows he has another role to play for us.
“Ben has been in and around the squad consistently for the last couple of years so he knows the game, he knows the players. He is a fit guy and just fits in quite readily. We always said to those guys outside the 31 that they need to be ready, and he is ready to go.
“He has come into the squad and has got to learn a few new things. Willi will help him and Benny [Youngs] will also help him.
“The task is no different to any other player. He has just got to learn a little bit more in the early part of the week and get himself physically and mentally ready.”
The England head coach is also in no doubt that his squad can lift themselves again for their first final since 2007, despite comments from Manu Tuilagi that he had “emptied the tank” in the semi-final victory.
“The great thing about our play
ers is that physically they are in fantastic condition,” Jones said. “So their ability to recover is extraordinary. I mentioned at the last press conference we had, they have taken to the onsens in droves and it is a great way of recovering.
“You think about how smart the Japanese are – 150 years ago each village had its own onsen, which is the perfect recovery – hot, cold, some social interaction so you relax, it’s perfect. So our players are better today than they were last week.
“And I would venture to say our training is going to be of a higher standard this week than it was last week. That’s how good a condition we’re in.”
Thousands of England supporters are flooding into Tokyo this week following the victory over
New Zealand, with ticket prices for the final shooting up to over £12,000 each on some secondary market websites.
Jones welcomed the injection of support and the spreading feelgood factor in England.
“I think it’s great,” Jones said. “You give the country something to cheer about. It’s the job of a team to make the country happy, we’ve made the country happy, but not as happy as they can be, because there is still a game to go, as we’ve said.
‘‘The crowds here generally in the World Cup have been fantastic and I thought our supporters on Saturday night were massively instrumental in helping us get home.
“Their singing and general support of the team has been outstanding. We urge them to keep doing that.”