Today’s rugby information as World Cup star to play by way of tragedy, England group slammed and new Eddie Jones bombshell emerges

These are your rugby headlines on Saturday, October 14.

Jones ‘set for Japan interview’

Australia boss Eddie Jones is reportedly set to carry an in-person interview for the function of Japan head coach early subsequent month in one more bombshell story relating to the Wallabies coach.

Ahead of his facet’s World Cup conflict with Wales, the 63-year-old discovered himself the goal of allegations that he had held talks with Japanese rugby bosses over returning to the function simply weeks earlier than the beginning of the event in France. While he has repeatedly denied the hyperlinks and burdened his dedication to the Wallabies,the rumours have refused to go away and proceed to comply with him even after his facet had been dumped out of the event within the pool levels.

And now ABC News has reported {that a} Zoom video interview was confirmed to have been carried out with Jones on the eve of the event, with the Australian coach now allegedly considered one of three candidates to fulfill with a variety panel for an extra in-person interview initially of November.

He would substitute Jamie Joseph, who introduced in the course of the summer season that he would step away from the function after the World Cup, no matter how his now-eliminated facet carried out.

“The Japanese Rugby Football Union (JRFU) started its course of shortly after his announcement,” the outlet’s report claimed. “It is known that Jones is the popular candidate of JRFU president Masato Tsuchida, who sits on the choice panel.”

“The JFRU is working on the understanding that Jones has a clause in his contract with Rugby Australia that enables him to be launched after the World Cup.

“The ABC understands Jones expressed robust curiosity within the function, even earlier than his on-line interview in August,” it continued. [He] is pissed off with the high-performance mannequin in Australia and delays in implementing Rugby Australia’s plans to maneuver to a centralised system much like Irish rugby, which is run by Australian efficiency director David Nucifora”.

READ MORE: Awkward spy suggestion at Ireland v All Blacks press convention sees media officers step in

READ MORE: Gwyn Jones: Wales will win, the All Blacks are out and I’d find it irresistible if England lose to Fiji

Dupont able to ‘endure’

France captain Antoine Dupont says he’s “able to endure” as he prepares to make a surprising return to World Cup motion having been named within the beginning line-up for the blockbuster quarter-final in opposition to South Africa.

The talismanic fly-half will skipper his facet as soon as once more simply three weeks after his event was thrown into doubt by a facial fracture sustained in opposition to Namibia. He underwent surgical procedure as he focused a return to motion as quickly as doable and now simply 20 days after having a steel plate inserted into his face, he is able to tackle the reigning world champions in Paris.

Such a speedy return has raised security considerations amongst some rugby followers, however Dupont has assured doubters that he’s bodily, mentally and technically able to take to the sphere once more.

“I really feel excellent on each counts (bodily and mentally),” he stated. “At the time, I didn’t understand how critical my damage was. I assumed the competitors was over.

“I needed to look ahead to the assessments, the appointment with the surgeon and the operation. My restoration went properly. I used to be capable of return step by step, and I had a number of weeks to do all that. Today, I’m on the high of my recreation, bodily and technically.

“It was a very gradual (return). I started running at low intensity,” he added. “I started with contact in the middle of last week, and I’m finding my feet again. At the beginning of the week, I was able to get back into it fully. I found myself back in collective situations, in-game situations. That boosted my confidence. I didn’t feel any pain. That reassured me. It was important to go through all the stages.”

Fiji star to play on by way of tragedy

Fiji hooker Sam Matavesi is able to symbolize his nation of their quarter-final in opposition to England regardless of the demise of his father simply days in the past, in line with coach Simon Raiwalui.

The 31-year-old had returned to England earlier this week after his father, former Cornwall participant Sireli Matavesi, handed away after an sickness. The tragedy – the second to hit the Fijian camp in the course of the event after the demise of Josua Tuisova’s son, had put Matavesi’s participation within the recreation unsure.

But he’s already again in France and has been named on the bench for Sunday’s recreation in Marseille, with Raiwalui left in “little question” that he might be able to play in honour of his later father.

“He got here again on this morning, he was adamant he wished to be right here. He’s a incredible young man,” the coach stated. “He’s excellent on his particulars so there is no worries there, I’ve little question that he’ll be prepared for the sport and able to play.”

“He informed me earlier within the week that his father had fallen in poor health. I’ve acquired a connection there with Josh, his older brother, who stayed with me at Racing [and] Sam came to visit as properly, so I’ve recognized them fairly a very long time. When he informed me (about his father) he was devastated, as you’ll be. I actually pushed for him to get again and see his dad.

“But he assured me proper from the beginning that his father would need him to play this recreation,” he added. “He wished to play this recreation. I simply made positive he had each alternative to be together with his household at this vital time.”

“One of my philosophies is at all times household first, that’s a very powerful factor in life, your loved ones. He’s acquired to go home. His brothers have come over with him for the weekend in order that they’ll get to benefit from the event with him and have fun his father’s life.

Gatland has achieved ‘superb’ job – Young

Former Wales worldwide Dai Young has praised Warren Gatland forward of his facet’s quarter-final conflict in opposition to Argentina quarter-final, describing him as “a grasp psychologist in addition to an ideal coach”.

Gatland has overseen a outstanding turnaround in Welsh rugby since he took over on the finish of the final 12 months, together with his facet overcoming a tumultous Six Nations marked by points on and off the sphere to achieve the final eight of the World Cup with 4 wins from 4.

The squad are taking part in with perception once more and have been tipped to beat the Pumas to progress to solely their third ever semi-final the place they may play both New Zealand or Ireland.

And ex-Cardiff boss Young has credited the coach with the upturn in fortunes after getting his group to “rise to the problem”.

“Like everyone else, I hope Wales can win and go even deeper into the tournament. I would rather have seen them playing Japan, but I expect them to be good enough to beat Argentina,” he stated. “Just take a look at the place they’re now in contrast with a 12 months in the past. It has been a tremendous turnaround and Warren Gatland deserves lots of credit score.

“What he does so properly is to get the gamers to imagine in what they’re doing. They put their belief in him and he reveals them he believes in them. He has turn out to be a grasp psychologist in addition to an ideal coach. Half the time you don’t know what he’s pondering and which means no person can really feel snug. What that does is make everybody work more durable, apply themselves much more.

“One of the reasons we’ve done so well under Gats is that he has been able to get his teams to rise to the challenge,” he added. “They like nothing better than to be written off, made the underdogs and be told they have something to prove. Welsh teams traditionally thrive when they have their backs against the wall.”

“I’ve had dealings with him previously and he’s a very good rugby man. He’s a typical aggressive Aussie, however nothing he does will faze Gats. He will get throughout his messages for the week and it’ll take an excellent group to beat Wales.”

England group slammed

England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward has slammed the group choice that may see winger Henry Arundell miss out in opposition to Fiji.

Arundell scored 5 tries within the 71-0 win over Chile within the opening group-stage match however has not featured since.

There are rumours over a bust-up with skipper Owen Farrell however Woodward will not be impressed.

“On the entire, the group nonetheless isn’t fast sufficient for me — even when it must be adequate to beat Fiji,” he stated.

“I nonetheless don’t perceive why Henry Arundell can’t get a recreation. To me, it’s absolute insanity. What a waste it’s to have a participant of Arundell’s undoubted high quality carrying the water. I’d have him at full again alongside a few the flyers who didn’t even make the journey.”