Eddie Jones wants Japan to make the Twickenham sky fall in on England

Eddie Jones knows Twickenham better than most. Now the man who once coached England wants Japan to bring the roof down on his old team, or at least the sky.

Jones, 66, says his side are "massive underdogs" for Saturday's Nations Championship Test (kick-off 4.40pm). But he thinks there is a way in.

What did Jones say?

Japan's head coach wants to "make the Twickenham sky fall in" on Steve Borthwick's England. His theory: England are already looking ahead to New Zealand on Saturday 21 November, and may be "a little bit distracted".

So the plan is simple. "Cause some havoc, cause some chaos, put off their game, get the crowd booing," he told the BBC. "Then the sky starts to come in on Twickenham and you never know what can happen."

He pointed to Italy, who beat England for the first time in March. He also said the English media is louder than any other in the world, and that it can weigh on players. He still called Borthwick "an outstanding coach" and said he has the highest respect for him.

Why is it spicy?

Jones coached England from 2016 to 2022. The RFU (England's rugby union governing body) sacked him a year before the 2023 World Cup, after a year with just five wins and fans booing the team following defeat to South Africa. Borthwick replaced him.

Jones then had a short spell with Australia that ended in the Wallabies' first-ever World Cup pool-stage exit. He took over Japan, nicknamed the Brave Blossoms, for a second time in 2024.

England arrive on the back of a 45-22 win over Australia, a record points haul with seven tries. That came in a week when Borthwick faced scrutiny over newspaper reports of a summer rift with his squad. Jamie George denied those claims to Sky Sports.

What about Pollock?

Back-row Henry Pollock scored two tries after half-time against Australia, playing out of position on the wing. Jones isn't impressed. "I wouldn't look too much into it," he said, adding that "everyone was licking the ice cream" with no pressure in the game.

He did call Pollock a talented, fast back-rower. But he said you couldn't read more into it than that.

Saturday's game is at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. We'll see whether the sky holds.