Can Eddie Jones Get His Reputation Back? Tarnished beyond recognition, Eddie Jones’s reputation as a rugby coaching guru can now perhaps only be resurrected in the country where they still remember him as a miracle worker. A year and one week since being sacked as England coach, he must prove back in Japan he still has something left to offer the global game. But after being announced as the Brave Blossoms’ coach for a second time, it will be no easy task for Jones to regain respect from the rugby world. His performances with both England and Australia since 2019, has left questions over whether he’s mislaid his once sure touch for good. But if there’s anywhere left on Planet Rugby where Jones isn’t going to get the pantomime boos heard throughout the World Cup, it’s surely in Japan, a country where he has family roots and total respect. Jones was no shoo-in for the Japan role, but even though South African Frans Ludeke had his backers after leading Kubota Spears to the national club title, the Australian’s standing as the man who led England to the final of the 2019 World Cup in Yokohama remained impeccable. And there’s a theory that his return to Japan could prove a nice fit, with Jones expected to be given the opportunity to enjoy the sort of control over centralised development of the game there in a way he felt he never did in Australia. Meanwhile Kiwi John Mitchell had a big dig at his former boss when he spoke to media for the first time as England’s women’s coach overnight. On Thursday he insisted he was “not an Eddie Jones” and was “absolutely” committed to leading England to the 2025 World Cup.