Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Eddie Jones is plotting a historic boilover of the Wallabies but has kept things civil ahead of his latest reunion in a full-circle moment with new Australian coach Les Kiss.
The Jones-coached Japan side will be aiming to beat the Wallabies for the first time in an eighth Test meeting in Osaka on Saturday night.
Sweltering conditions have gripped the city all week and, with an eye to next year’s home Rugby World Cup, Kiss has taken the chance to look at fresh faces in his first Test in charge.
Tenth-ranked Japan, like Australia (No.8 in the world), lost to France and Ireland but beat Italy in their three-Test Nations Championship swing last month.
“There’s been seven official Test matches, we don’t have a win yet so it’s a fantastic opportunity for Japan to create new history,” Jones said.
“We saw last year (a 19-15 loss in Tokyo) we were getting closer to Australia and I believe that gap, if there’s a gap, is going to minimised again on the weekend.”
Star Hurricanes lock Warner Dearns will captain the Brave Blossoms while Australian expats Jack Cornelsen, Harry Hockings and Ben Gunter have been named to play.
Jones was the last man to take over the Wallabies mid-season, replacing Rod Macqueen in 2001.
He took Australia to the World Cup final on home soil in 2003 and, after coaching in Japan, South Africa and England, was sensationally parachuted into the job before the 2023 showpiece.
But the Wallabies flopped and he was just as controversially out the door, linking up with Japan after serving just 10 months of a five-year contract.
Kiss has replaced Joe Schmidt, who coached the three July Tests and boasted just two wins from his final 11 games to finish with a winning percentage of 38.71 (12 from 31 Tests).
The pair worked together in Ireland and have remained close, with Kiss observing operations over the last two Tests.
Kiss played rugby league for Australia and Queensland before getting into rugby coaching and it was Jones, having coached against Kiss’s Springboks, who made the introductions that led to him returning home with the NSW Waratahs in the early 2000s.
“Les and Joe had a pretty close relationship going back to when Les was in Ireland,” Jones said when asked if he sensed an opportunity, given the Wallabies’ handover period.
“Their thinking would be the same; little nuances but a reasonably easy transition … fairly seamless.”
The game will be played in quarters, with drink breaks every 20 minutes.
Kiss has carried a quiet confidence since stepping into the role and said he hadn’t been caught up thinking too much about his rival coach.
“Pretty good, actually,” he said when asked how he was feeling.
“I’m really pleased with how the coaching team have come together.
“I’m pleased with how they’ve accepted some new ways and approaches I’ve got.
“And on a personal level, it’s cool.
“I’m really enjoying it and now it comes down to an 80 minutes where it won’t be cool anymore; it’ll get quite hot.
“I’m loving it. Smooth waters at the moment. It can get rough at any time and I’m ready for the ride.”
