Eddie Jones believes the number of Springboks playing in Japan Rugby League One benefits the world champions.
Unlike nations such as New Zealand, England and Ireland – who as a general rule do not select players based overseas – SA Rugby allows its top stars to play abroad and still represent the Boks.
Several key players now ply their trade in Japan, including two-time World Rugby Player of the Year winner Pieter-Steph du Toit and the latest recipient of that global honour, Malcolm Marx. Other Springbok stars like Cheslin Kolbe, Manie Libbok, centre pair Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende all play in Japan.
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Japan’s domestic competition is widely considered less physically demanding than Europe’s top leagues or Super Rugby, and Jones believes the structure of the season further benefits international players.
“Look at how many South Africa players play in Japan and I actually think they benefit from it because it’s a little bit less arduous on your bodies,” Jones said on the Rugby Unity podcast.
“They get good training time in, they get enough practice, they get plenty of touches on the ball, which is an advantage.”
Jones compared the style of play in League One to the early days of Super Rugby.
“There’s plenty of ball movement and plenty of touches of the ball,” he explained. “It’s that hybrid rugby without the hard contest at the breakdown, so it’s a good league to play in.
“Look at Malcolm Marx – he’s just won World Rugby Player of the Year and he’s played here the last three years. It’s an advantage for them, a massive advantage.”
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Many observers believe SA Rugby’s decision to relax the country’s overseas selection policy helped lay the foundation for the Boks’ back-to-back World Cup triumphs.
Newly-appointed All Blacks coach Dave Rennie said this week that he wants experienced lock Brodie Retallick back in the national set-up.
As things stand, the All Blacks coach can only select players based abroad if they are on short-term sabbaticals and remain contracted to NZ Rugby.
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Photo: Koki Nagahama/Getty Images
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