Eddie Jones faced reporters for the first time since his suspension on Wednesday, and the Japan head coach could not resist a joke at his own expense. Asked how he intends to influence the Brave Blossoms' Nations Championship opener against Italy on 4 July with a touchline ban hanging over him, the 66-year-old reached for one of football's most infamous workarounds.
"He went into the dressing room in a laundry basket, so I'm looking for a laundry basket," Jones said of former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who once tried to evade a touchline ban by hiding in a laundry hamper. Jones quickly added that he was "only joking".
The levity did not last. Jones was handed a four-match ban and a salary reduction by the Japan Rugby Football Union after verbally abusing a match official during Japan Under-23s' tour of Australia in April — a sanction triggered in part by an official complaint from his former employers, Rugby Australia. He opened the media conference by reading a prepared apology.
"I'd like to apologise for disrespecting the game of rugby," Jones said. "I made a comment on the Australia tour because I felt my team was being unfairly treated. I will serve the game with greater respect in the future. I've moved on, I'm only worried about preparing the team for Italy."
He returned to the incident later, striking a more reflective note. "I love the game of rugby, so I do feel very disappointed in my own behaviour that I've brought the game into this area where we have to discuss it at a press conference," he said. "But like everyone, we make mistakes and now it's time to move on."
Jones served a six-week suspension from 24 April to 5 June, during which he was barred from rugby activity and from attending matches in Japan's domestic League One. He revealed he did not sit idle while his side contested Sunday's final.
"I couldn't go to the League One final so I went to Singapore and did community work," Jones explained. "I love the game of rugby so I kept working. It hasn't affected the Italy game."
Jones is permitted to run Japan's training camp but cannot enter the stadium for the Italy fixture in Tokyo. He will return to the coaching box a week later when Japan face Ireland in Newcastle. His contract runs to the end of the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
With his selection for the JRFU's centenary campaign confirmed, Jones turned to the bigger picture. "It's taken us 100 years to participate in a tier-one tournament and it's a great celebration this year," he said. He set an unapologetically ambitious target for a side facing Italy, Ireland and others in the new global competition.
"We want to be the team of the tournament. We want to be the team that everyone wants to watch," Jones said. "Italy are the most improved team in the world. Their work rate is higher than any other team off the ball. To beat Italy we'll have to beat them with our work off the ball."
Jones will have two weeks to ready his squad once the players assemble on 19 June. He just won't be allowed in the stadium to see the first instalment.
