Eddie Jones’s reputation as a rugby coaching guru can be resurrected in Japan, where he still has respect. A year after being sacked as England coach, the 63-year-old has to prove that he has something left to offer the global game. Jones must regain the respect he has lost after leaving the Wallabies and denying links to the Japan job. His appointment as the Brave Blossoms’ coach has faced criticism on social media. Despite his tumultuous time with England and Australia, his return to Japan could help rebuild his reputation, as he has strong ties to the country. Jones’s previous spell as Japan’s coach, which included their historic win against South Africa at the World Cup, shows his influence on the development of rugby in Japan. Now, he has to rebuild Japan’s national team, which did not perform as expected at the 2023 World Cup. This return to Japan could provide Jones with the control over the game that he felt he never had in Australia, in a way he felt he never did in Australia. Jones is expected to have his first match as the Brave Blossoms’ coach in June, facing off against his former team, England. Meanwhile, former England player Andy Goode and ex-Japan defense coach John Mitchell have criticized Jones, but Jones’s close friendship with Japan’s RFU president and his influence on Japanese rugby means that this coaching appointment could help revive his reputation.