SM
Oman vs. Qatar: 11 hrs 4 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Autumn Internationals | Autumn Internationals
Nov 17, 2018 at 3pm UK
 
England
35-15
Japan
Care (3'), Wilson (59'), Cokanasiga (70'), Hartley (76')
FT
Nakamura (22'), Leitch (31')

Leitch says Japan will not bow down to England at Twickenham

:Headline: Leitch says Japan will not bow down to England at Twickenham: ID:341509: from db_amp
Eddie Jones, the former Japan coach, had warned the Brave Blossoms to go to the temple and pray ahead of the game.

Michael Leitch has insisted Japan will not bow down to England or ex-coach Eddie Jones at Twickenham on Saturday.

Japan captain Leitch offered a deliberately cryptic response to Jones telling the Brave Blossoms to go to the temple and pray ahead of Saturday's west London Test.

Leitch made the bold call for Jones' Japan to kick a penalty to the corner that sparked the last-gasp try to stun South Africa 34-32 for the greatest shock in World Cup history in Brighton in 2015.

Michael Leitch, left, has pledged Japan will not take a backward step against Eddie Jones' England (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The back-rower hailed mentor Jones as one of the driving forces of his 57-cap career, but used an all-purpose Japanese phrase to provide an ambivalent response to the England boss' words of warning.

"We have a saying in Japan: 'sou desu ne', which means 'yes' and that's all I can say," said Leitch, on Jones' comments.

"So we don't read into anything that's been said in the media, we just focus on what we're trying to do here.

Jones could feature in a Hollywood film about his exploits with the Japan team (Adam Davy/PA)

"Coming up against England we're obviously not going to go there and bow down, we are going to go out there and win it."

Former Chiefs and current Sunwolves flanker Leitch left his native New Zealand for Japan aged 15, later becoming a citizen in his adopted home.

Hollywood is primed to make a glitzy movie out of Japan's stunning triumph over South Africa in 2015, with Kiwi actor Temuera Morrison slated to play current England boss Jones.

Morrison played cult character 'Jake The Muss' in the classic Kiwi film 'Once For Warriors', and Leitch admitted there could be no better actor to play Jones.

The 30-year-old hailed Jones for transforming Japanese rugby, with the Brave Blossoms bidding to reach a maiden quarter-final when hosting next year's World Cup.

"I've known Eddie since I was at university, so we have a great relationship," said Leitch.

"He's always been highly regarded, he started out in Japan back in 1998 or something like that.

"He's coached Suntory, won championships there, and obviously coached Japan and changed the history of Japanese rugby. So he's very highly regarded in Japan.

"Eddie has a big role to play in that movie. The great thing Eddie did with Japanese rugby, he changed the mindset.

Steve Borthwick played a vital role in helping the Japan team develop (David Davies/PA)

"The national team always accepted losing, but once we changed that, he set us on the right track. Jake the Muss (Kiwi actor Temuera), they could not pick it better to play Eddie!"

Current England forwards coach Steve Borthwick helped Japan mastermind that Springboks shock, working under Jones back at the last World Cup.

And Leitch admitted Japan are still using elements of his coaching, some three years on.

Leitch said: "Steve was fantastic; he was a guy I could really rely on. His expertise and leadership was something that really helped me in the four years' preparation for the World Cup.

"His expertise at lineout, maul, some of that detail and some of the standards he brought into the team are still here. We still use some of his language today."

amp_article__341509 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2018-11-14 04:57:08:
html db last update - 2018-11-14 04:57:08 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Eddie Jones

Click here for more stories about England

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .