Japan head coach Eddie Jones has said that their Nations Championship clash with Ireland in July is being staged in Australia because Ireland “have all the power”.
Speaking on the Rugby Unity podcast, the former England and Australian head coach took aim at the decision to play the scheduled clash in Newcastle.
“You know why we’re playing Ireland in Newcastle? Ireland have all the power at World Rugby,” said Jones.
“So we have to play our home game, that should be in Tokyo, in Australia to make sure Ireland don’t have to travel too much – let’s be frank about it.
“We have to just suck it up and that’s what happens when you’re not a major political power at the table.”
The 11 July fixture will kick off at 11am Irish time and will be Andy Farrell’s side’s second game of the new tournament at the McDonald Jones Stadiumin New South Wales.
The Wallabies provide the opposition for their opening match on 4 July at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
The Triple Crown winners’ final game of the Southern Series is against New Zealand in Eden Park on 18 July.
The inaugural Nations Championship pits the top 12 nations from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres against each other in a six-round competition.
Ireland will host Argentina, Fiji and South Africa in November and the tournament will culminate in a ‘Finals Weekend’ at Allianz Stadium Twickenham.
AloJapan.com