The question was when, not if. From the moment the first details of a flirtation with Japan were reported during the World Cup, the announcement of Eddie Jones’s return to Tokyo seemed only a matter of time.
In the end, it came quickly: on 8 November, the former England coach denied having had any contact with Japan, before or after his departure from Australia was confirmed. By 13 December, the Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) were ready to announce that Jones was back for a second stint in charge of their national men’s team.
