England Prepared for Eddie Jones and Japan Curveballs, Says Itoje
England captain Maro Itoje has told his team to stay "alive" against Eddie Jones's Japan in their Nations Championship match at Twickenham. Jones has teased unorthodox tactics, and George Ford says England must still impose their own game.
England have prepared for Eddie Jones and Japan by telling their players to expect the unexpected in a Nations Championship match at Twickenham on Saturday. Captain Maro Itoje said the message all week has been to stay "alive".
Steve Borthwick's side host Japan for the first time in nearly two years. They meet a familiar opponent in Jones, Borthwick's predecessor and an influential figure for much of the home squad.
Jones teases a different approach
Jones has stirred things up before the game. He suggested he would do something different and said England struggle with "unorthodox" rugby.
He referenced Italy's no-ruck tactics, which caused bafflement at Twickenham during the 2017 Six Nations.
England will be on their guard. They are looking to build on a strong start to the autumn against Australia.
Itoje: "Alive, alive, alive"
"The overarching message this week is that we need to be alive," Itoje said. "We need to be alive, alive, alive."
He accepted that no team can prepare for everything. "It's impossible to tick off every eventuality that an opposition might do," he said. He singled out Japan as a side with "a very distinct way of playing" and said they are consistent at getting speed into the game.
Itoje warned against assuming Japan will behave like other opponents. "Japan aren't most teams," he said. His second priority is England's own approach: "We need to impose our game."
He also recalled Jones's methods from the other side. "Eddie would throw a whole load of weird and wonderful things at us to keep us sharp and keep us on our toes," Itoje said.
Ford: understand it, then negate it
Fly half George Ford played in the 2023 World Cup meeting with Japan. England were unsettled by Japan's variety that evening in Nice, on a hot and humid night, in a game that featured 79 kicks from hand.
Ford said England must work out quickly what Japan are trying to do. "The key for us if any of that comes is to try and understand what they are trying to achieve as quickly as we can, and try and negate it," he said.
He does not want England reduced to reacting. "We call it our competitive advantage," Ford said. "If it is in a certain area, or area or two, we'd be daft not to try and hammer that home."
Jones's history with England
Jones spent seven years in charge of England. He led them to three Six Nations titles and the final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
He returned for a second stint with Japan after Australia axed him at the end of 2023. This is his second visit to Twickenham with the team.
The last one ended in a one-sided 59-14 English win. Japan then pushed Borthwick's side much closer at the 2023 World Cup.
