Eddie Jones: We have to play a home game in Australia
- Mark Pickering
- May 1
- 1 min read
Japan head coach Eddie Jones has criticised Ireland’s ‘power play’ in moving their Nations Championship fixture from Japan to a neutral venue in Newcastle, Australia.
The Brave Blossoms launch their campaign in the new 12-team Tier 1 competition against Italy at Tokyo’s Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium on Saturday 4 July.
Their round two 'home' tie against Ireland will take place in Australia rather than Japan, it was announced at the end of April.
“You know why we’re playing Ireland in Newcastle, Ireland have all the power at World Rugby,” said Jones on the latest Rugby Unity podcast.
“So we have to play a home game, that should be in Tokyo, in Australia to make sure Ireland doesn’t have to travel too much.
“We have to suck it up, that’s what happens when you’re not a major political power at the table.”
Andy Farrell’s Six Nations runners-up Ireland face the Wallabies in Sydney in their opening game on 4 July.
Ireland lost their last game against the Brave Blossoms in Japan during the 2019 Rugby World Cup as Jamie Joseph’s hosts surged into the quarter-finals by topping their group.
Jones added: “We’ve got to be grateful to be in the Nations Championship. We have to accept there might be some inequalities in the distribution of games.
“We look forward to playing there against a very good Ireland side to keep everyone happy.”
Following their trip to Australia, Japan will host Six Nations winners France at Tokyo’s National Stadium in round three on Saturday 18 July.
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