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Provocateur-supreme Jones returns to face his former England charges

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In short

The match marks a high-stakes reunion as Jones prepares to challenge his former side during the Nations Championship. England enters the contest riding the momentum of a recent 45-22 victory over Australia, whereas Japan recently fell 27-21 against Wales. While former English players like Jamie George and Ellis Genge respect Jones's past tournament achievements, former scrumhalf Danny Care publicly criticized his tenure as toxic in a 2024 autobiography. Jones hopes his developing squad can test the hosts despite entering as heavy underdogs.

Key points

  • Japan enters the upcoming contest as heavy underdogs intending to disrupt England with an…: Japan enters the upcoming contest as heavy underdogs intending to disrupt England with an unorthodox style.
  • Jones's past seven-year tenure with England remains defined by major trophies alongside s…: Jones's past seven-year tenure with England remains defined by major trophies alongside severe criticism of his abrasive management.
  • Japan's rebuilding squad includes university players but has achieved notable recent resu…: Japan's rebuilding squad includes university players but has achieved notable recent results, including winning this year's Pacific Nations Cup.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

LONDON, Nov 10 : Eddie Jones was a divisive figure in his controversial seven-year spell as England coach and can be expected to relish a role as provocateur when his Japan side play at Twickenham in the Nations Championship on Saturday.

Japan will be overwhelming underdogs against England but Jones has hinted he has a plan or two up his sleeve as he looks to spring a surprise.

"We’ll need to be able to break up the game, if we play an orthodox game of rugby, we’re probably going to struggle to beat them," the Australian said.

"And the English don’t react well to unorthodox rugby. We’ve got to think about how we can play quite unorthodoxly," said Jones after his side pushed Wales in Cardiff last Saturday.

It was the kind of mischievous quote that Jones has used before to wind up the opposition, although it will be nothing new to England.

"We're never sure what Eddie's going to throw at us, so we're looking forward to that challenge too," hooker Jamie George said after they overwhelmed Australia 45-22…

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