Rugby ground overflowing with spectators
MASTER Rugby coach Eddie Jones reckons coaching the Japanese under-23 side is his second job.
On Saturday at the Grafton Hay Street Rugby Fields, Jones showed just as much passion from the sidelines as he does as Head Coach of the Brave Blossoms Japanese senior side.
As part of the Coffs Coast Festival of Rugby, the Grafton Redmen hosted their first international game between the Japanese under-23’s and the Fijian under 20s sides.
According to Jones, the 48-39 victory against Fiji was “a bit rusty” but more importantly, he added playing in the bush was great for the game and grassroots rugby.
“We weren’t at our best today, but we got the job done,” Jones said after the match.
“It was a great showpiece for rugby, coming out to the country area. Local team plays first and we get to play second, and a lot of people came along and supported the day.
“It was a good win, and we are now looking forward and focused on playing our next couple of matches.”
Not unlike the Australian Stockman side, Japanese players are selected from all parts of the country, and judging from Saturday’s performance, the talent pool runs deep.
“The players come from all over the country and are made up of university students,” Jones added.
The atmosphere on the day certainly matched the quality of rugby played.
Japan’s precision passing game was a highlight of the match stretching the Fijian defence at every opportunity.
In fact, both teams were prepared to throw caution to the wind, cast off the attacking shackles and entertain the largest crowd ever witnessed at a rugby game in Grafton.
