Rassie Erasmus weighs in after ‘honest and fearless’ Eddie Jones launched broadside against Ireland and World Rugby
Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus and Japan head coach Eddie Jones.
Eddie Jones has received the backing of Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus with the Japan head coach praised for his “honesty and no fear mentality”.
Jones and Erasmus have had their battles over the years, firstly with England and then the Wallabies, while they also went head-to-head in the November series last year.
Both are known for their outspoken approach and are quite happy to speak their mind, which was in evidence from the Australian when he discussed the decision to move one of the Brave Blossoms’ home Nations Championship clashes to Australia.
Rassie’s praise for Eddie
In the wake of those comments, the South Africa head coach took to X, formerly Twitter, to hail Jones’ willingness to air his views, even if it ruffles a few feathers.
“We don’t always agree, but really admire this honesty and no fear mentality,” Erasmus wrote, followed by a handshake emoji and an image of the Japan boss.
The former England boss did not hold back when talking about the decision to switch their match against Ireland in July from Tokyo to Australia.
It will now be played in New South Wales, which means the Brave Blossoms have a 10-hour flight for a ‘home’ game that is sandwiched in between their encounters against Italy and France.
“You know why we’re playing Ireland in Newcastle, right? Ireland have all the power at World Rugby, so we have to play our home game, which should be in Tokyo, in Australia to make sure Ireland don’t have to travel too much,” he said on the Rugby Unity podcast.
“Let’s be frank about this.
“We just have to suck it up and that’s what happens when you’re not a major political power at the table.”
Japan and Fiji again draw the short straw
In a competition which sees the Six Nations and Rugby Championship sides face-off, Japan and Fiji were invited to participate in order to increase the number of ‘southern’ countries – irrespective of the Brave Blossoms being in the northern hemisphere – so that they could also have a group of six.
However, those two sides have both been forced to move their home games, with Fiji playing their entire schedule in Britain, rather than on the Pacific Island.
Host of Rugby Unity, David Pembroke, was intrigued by how these discussions played out, which drew another blunt response from Jones.
“I know how they took place,” he said. “Ireland say: ‘We’re not going from New Zealand to Japan and then back to Australia, we’re not doing that’.
“Japan, you want to be in the Nations Cup? Yes, of course we do, but you’ve got to use one of your home games to play in Australia.
“It’s simple mate, it’s not complicated.”
