England’s Freddie Burns Sheds Light on Eddie Jones’ Enduring Influence in Japanese Rugby
Freddie Burns, the former England fly-half, has offered a unique perspective on the challenge facing the Red Rose squad in the coming weeks. As a player plying his trade in Japan’s domestic league, Burns has witnessed firsthand the lasting impact of Eddie Jones on the Brave Blossoms.
Ahead of England’s three-Test tour, which begins with a clash against Japan this Saturday, Burns warns that Jones’ return to the team he famously guided to World Cup glory in 2015 has once again galvanized the hosts. “Eddie visited our team a couple of months ago,” the Toyota Shokki Shuttles star reveals. “I saw with my own eyes he’s definitely got that sort of respect and fear factor.”
Burns elaborates on Jones’ influence, noting that the mere presence of the former England head coach caused the Japanese players to falter during training sessions. “We’re in division two and the likelihood of our boys playing for Japan is pretty slim. Yet as soon as the boys saw him, about 10 balls went down.”
The 33-year-old believes Jones’ coaching style is well-suited to the Japanese mindset, stating, “The Japanese boys aren’t the type to argue back, to complain or sap away. They’re far more likely to get their heads down and make it work. In that sense Eddie is well suited.”
“The team that went out at Eden Park that day was fearless because no-one gave us a chance. We took the game to them and ended up almost walking away with a result.”
With the National Stadium in Tokyo hosting this weekend’s fixture, Burns acknowledges the “heat factor” and the “fatigue after a long season” as potential challenges for Steve Borthwick’s young England squad. However, he remains optimistic about their chances, drawing parallels to the fearless 2014 team he was a part of that almost caused a major upset against the All Blacks.
As England move on to New Zealand for the final two Tests, Burns’ own experiences with the Highlanders in Dunedin will undoubtedly prove invaluable. Despite the daunting task ahead, the former international is confident that this new-look England side can seize the opportunity presented by the changing of the guard in the All Blacks camp.
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