Jones Hails England's Rout of Japan, Warns All Blacks Will Be 'Violent'

Eddie Jones was never going to watch England's demolition of Japan without offering a few thoughts on the side he once coached. The former England head coach was generous in his praise after the visitors scored freely to win 78-15 on Saturday, calling them "very good" in a result that left his own Japan side on the wrong end of a one-sided afternoon.

Jones was not presenting the win as a comfort blanket for what comes next. He was quick to warn that the All Blacks, who face England next week, will bring a far harsher edge. His point was that the scoreline against Japan says more about the mismatch on the day than about what England should expect from New Zealand, a side he expects to be "violent" from the opening whistle.

There is a pointed undercurrent to the comments. England's performance has to be judged against a team that, on paper, ranks among the most dangerous in the sport. Jones is steering the conversation toward a simple question: can England keep the same tempo and discipline once the opposition starts pushing back?

The result also shows how wide the gap can stretch in Test rugby. Japan have made real progress on the international stage, but a 63-point margin is hard to spin. For England, the takeaway from the weekend is that the attacking game is clicking. The harder test is whether that form survives the physical pressure New Zealand are known to apply.