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"Jones Calls for Patience After Japan's Heavy Loss to England"
Japan coach Eddie Jones called for patience after his side endured a heavy 59-14 defeat to England on Sunday, marking their third heavy loss in four games during the Autumn series. While Japan had managed to secure a victory against Uruguay the previous week, they were unable to stem the tide against a dominant England team, following similar heavy losses to New Zealand and France earlier in the series.
Jones, who previously coached England, was keen to emphasize the value of these tough experiences for his young team. “They are a really young team,” Jones said. “We have to accept that it’s part of the process. We’re obviously disappointed with the result, but it’s always good to come to the home of rugby and for our players to experience that.” He noted that playing in iconic venues like Twickenham and the Stade de France would be invaluable for their development, providing his players with essential insights into what is required to compete at the highest level.
The Japan team, with an inexperienced starting lineup boasting just 201 caps in total, struggled to match England’s seasoned squad, which had a combined 622 caps. Jones acknowledged that his team’s lack of experience was a major factor in the result. “It’s just time and lessons like this,” he said. “When you have 200 caps, most players have played 10 tests or less, so when something goes wrong on the field, they can’t adapt to it.” Despite the setbacks, Jones remained resolute, stating, "It’s a process. There’s been nothing we’ve massively improved in or got worse at. It’s been up and down, but we just have to stick at it."
Despite the disappointing result, Jones praised England’s performance under head coach Steve Borthwick. He described the England team’s performance as a “lesson in pressure rugby” and expressed admiration for the way they played. Jones, known for his sense of humor, also dismissed claims from former England scrumhalf Danny Care’s book, which described Jones’ tenure as a “toxic environment.” “I’ve got a new book deal coming out,” Jones quipped, “It’s called Caring about Care. Get all the details in that.”
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