Japan's landmark

The Brave Blossoms are preparing for an historic first home Test against England. Rich Freeman explains why it means so much

- RICH FREEMAN

AS JAPAN gets set for the ‘Eddie Jones Era Part Two’, it’s worth remembering some words of wisdom from Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth. “We all know the dangers of sequels. Lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same place too often.”

But that is just what Japan RFU president Masato Tsuchida is hoping will happen after using his long-term friendship with former Suntory colleague Jones to persuade the Australian to return to Tokyo on a full-time basis, following his disastrous time in charge of the Wallabies in 2023.

“We started with 80 candidates, narrowed that down to a shortlist and, after interviewing Eddie, decided on bringing him back,” Tsuchida said when Jones was formally appointed Japan coach for the second time on 14 December 2023.

Jones’s appointment has divided Japanese fans, many of whom believe the JRFU should be looking forward, not back. So this year’s Tests, which begin with England on 22 June in Tokyo, and include a return fixture in November, will be a litmus test for things to come. They are in marked contrast to the games that Japan faced in the first Jones era.

‘Eddie Part One’ began in Kazakhstan in 2012 as Japan started the qualifying process for the 2015 World Cup following two disappointing campaigns under John Kirwan.

A win over Wales in 2013 brought hope that something different was on the horizon, but few imagined that at England 2015, Japan would become the first team to fail to progress to the World Cup quarter-finals despite winning three pool games. Among those defeated were South Africa, a game that inspired the movie Brighton Miracle, written and directed by former NRL player Max Mannix and starring Temuera Morrison as Jones!