Jones holds promise of high five

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'Exciting squad' Brave Blossoms can bloom on the world stage under coach Japan's new head coach Eddie Jones vowed yesterday to play "very attacking" rugby as he unveiled a young, strong and mostly home-grown squad aiming for a fifth successive Asian Five Nations title. Japan, who have lifted the Asian Five Nations trophy four times in a row since its inception in 2008, will play Kazakhstan away on April 28 in their opening game of the 2012 tournament. Japan thrashed the UAE 111-0 last year. Jones, who guided Australia to the 2003 World Cup final which they lost to England, said he had selected the 30 players to win the Asian crown and pave the way for Japan to enter the world's top 10 by the 2015 World Cup in England. The 30-man squad includes 14 uncapped players and just one foreigner: the flanker Michael Leitch of New Zealand. "It's a very exciting squad, lots of good young players, and really good experienced players," said Jones, who was also technical adviser to South Africa when they won the 2007 World Cup in France. Jones's predecessor, the All Black legend John Kirwan, drew fire for selecting 10 foreign-born players for last year's World Cup. "There's no distinction between foreign and Japanese players," Jones said. "It's about picking the best players who can play the sort of rugby that, we think, can get us into the top 10 in the world." Jones guided Japan's Top League champions Suntory Sungoliath to a second successive title at the weekend, masterminding a 21-9 victory over Panasonic Wild Knights on Sunday in the final of the national championship, which is open to amateur and professional teams, for a double to crown Jones's stint at the club. He joined Suntory in 2009 as general manager and has worn two hats, including that of head coach, since 2010. He will officially start his role with the Japan national side on April 1. "We'll be out to use the ball to create space and to control the defence," Jones said. "It'll be very good rugby to watch and we're going to win." The 52-year-old Australian said he did not call up five foreign players who had previously made the national team because of injuries. Of them, the Tonga-born No 8 Ryukoliniasi Holani may come back to the Brave Blossoms in June if he recovers, Jones said. Jones's contract will last four years but may be extended as Japan are due to stage the World Cup in 2019, hoping to avoid the embarrassment of becoming the first host country to fail to make the knockout stages. Kirwan's five-year deal expired in December after he failed to break Japan's 20-year World Cup win drought at the 2011 New Zealand tournament. The Brave Blossoms have competed at every World Cup but have just one win, a victory over Zimbabwe in 1991. The South African scrum-half Fourie Du Preez, who plays for Suntory, told Kyodo news agency that Jones will transform the Brave Blossoms into a surprise package toward the next World Cup. "The Japanese national team will definitely surprise a few people in the next four years, and they will be some sort of force to be reckoned with Eddie there," the Springbok said. "I've seen how he develops every single guy at the club." The former Blue Bulls star said he planned to fulfil the remaining year on his contract with Suntory although there is an opt-out clause in the deal. "I've really enjoyed my time here and the club has been good to me so I'm going to stay on for next season," Du Preez said. * Agence France-Presse @ For more on ASIAN FIVE NATIONS rugby, visit thenational.ae/topics

SPORT,asian five nations top five,japan,hong kong,kazakhstan,rugby,Belgium,Belgium

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