Banned Japan coach Eddie Jones will be absent when his side begin their Nations Championship campaign in Tokyo on Saturday against an Italian side looking to continue their Six Nations success.
Jones is serving the final game of a four-match ban imposed by the Japan Rugby Football Union for abusing match officials on this year’s tour of Australia.
Forwards coach Neal Hatley will fill in for the tour of Italy, who are riding high after beating England for the first time this year and equaling their Six Nations record by finishing fourth.
Japan have named unqualified university student Ryunosuke Ito to start at shortstop and Hatley expects a “tough battle” against the Italians.
“The sides from the northern hemisphere have a very good scrum, a very good drive,” he said.
“They are very driven up front, so that’s where we expect the hardest part of the game to be and we’re prepared for that.”
