- Title: JAPAN: RUGBY UNION: Jones promises attacking intent for Japan
- Date: 20th March 2012
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (MARCH 19, 2012) (REUTERS) TOKYO'S PRINCE CHICHIBU MEMORIAL RUGBY GROUND SIGN THAT READS "RUGBY 2012 TOKYO" JAPAN NATIONAL RUGBY TEAM COACH EDDIE JONES WALKING INTO NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN AND JAPAN NATIONAL RUGBY TEAM COACH EDDIE JONES SAYING: "We've picked a squad, firstly to win the Asian finals, but moving towards the World Cup in 2015. So we've got a balance between experienced players and we've picked a number of rookie players who we believe can be very good players for Japan by 2015." PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURE OF JONES (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN AND JAPAN NATIONAL RUGBY TEAM COACH EDDIE JONES SAYING: "We've got to find a point of difference in the way we play the game, and it'll depend on how the squad comes together, there'll be a philosophy of how we play. We want to use the ball very well, that doesn't mean we can't kick the ball but we want to use the ball to create space to control the defence. So it'll be a very good rugby to watch, but we're going to win. So at the end of the day, while we want to play attractive rugby we have to win." JONES SHAKING HANDS WITH NEWLY APPOINTED TEAM CAPTAIN TOSHIAKI HIROSE JONES SHAKING HANDS WITH HIROSE JONES AND TEAM MEMBERS POSING FOR PHOTOS MORE OF JONES AND TEAM MEMBERS POSING FOR PHOTOS HIROSE BEING INTERVIEWED BY MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) NEWLY APPOINTED TEAM CAPTAIN TOSHIAKI HIROSE SAYING: "I've had a few experiences of my own and I hope that I can use those in this role. As for the world cup, it's 4 years from now and while important, first we have to make the foundations and culture for this team before moving to the next step." JONES BEING INTERVIEWED BY MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN AND JAPAN NATIONAL RUGBY TEAM COACH EDDIE JONES SAYING: "There's a good mix of young players, there's some nice veteran players to teach the younger guys. And what we have to do is just keep improving. We're not ready to be a top 10 in the world team yet, but in a year or two years or three, we will be." VARIOUS OF HIROSE AND TEAM MEMBERS POSING FOR PHOTOS
- Embargoed: 4th April 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan, Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA8PSSCL8ZO9X15QOMT0Q9D7YYI
- Story Text: Ex -Australia coach Eddie Jones announces Japan national rugby team as they shoot for 2015 World Cup.Ex-Australia coach Eddie Jones announced Japan's national rugby team on Monday (March 19) as they look to build towards the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Jones guided the Wallabies to the final round of the 2003 World Cup, and while he is unlikely to achieve similar success with Japan, believes they can become a competitive outfit.
"We've picked a squad, firstly to win the Asian Five Nations, but moving towards the world cup in 2015," he said.." So we've got a balance between experienced players and we've picked a number of rookie players who we believe can be very good players for Japan by 2015.
"We've got to find a point of difference in the way we play the game, and it'll depend on how the squad comes together, there'll be a philosophy of how we play. We want to use the ball very well, that doesn't mean we can't kick the ball but we want to use the ball to create space to control the defence. So it'll be a very good rugby to watch, but we're going win. So at the end of the day, while we want to play attractive rugby we have to win."
Having been selected as team captain, Toshiaki Hirose of the Toshiba Brave Lupus said that he hoped that he could use his experience to help shape the team ahead of the World Cup
"I've had a few experiences of my own and I hope that I can use those in this role," he said. "As for the World Cup, it's four years from now and while important, first we have to make the foundations and culture for this team before moving to the next step."
While the team is still in its formative stages, Jones said that given time, it could compete with the best.
"There's a good mix of young players, there's some nice veteran players to teach the younger guys," he said. "And what we have to do is just keep improving. We're not ready to be a top 10 in the world team yet, but in a year or two years or three, we will be."
The 30 man team will begin their first camp training in the beginning of April before their first match against Kazakhstan on April 28. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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