Japan on $18 per day; England on $32K per test

By Associated Press 13 November 2018, 12:00AM

LONDON (AP) — Japan is playing England this weekend for the first time since the so-called amateur era. And being paid like it.

Coach Jamie Joseph says his team of "amateurs" receives less than $18 a day on tour.

Meanwhile, England's players will receive $32,000 each after the test on Saturday at Twickenham in their first matchup since the 1987 Rugby World Cup.

"Our home-based players are amateurs, they are employees of companies, and receive 2,000 yen a day," Joseph said on Monday. "To be here and play a team like England is a great opportunity for a footy team and a footy player.

"Our professional players, the foreign-based players, don't get paid for playing for Japan. If you put that all together, we have got different motivators and we just want to get out and leave our footprint behind."

Japan will be covered in footprints if England coach Eddie Jones has his way.

Joseph laughed off advice from his predecessor Jones that Japan should seek divine intervention for their test against England.

Jones warned Japan that England will be "absolutely ruthless" at Twickenham, eager to "physically smash" the Japanese in response to losing to New Zealand 16-15 last weekend.

Jones, who coached Japan from 2012-15, quipped that Japan find a temple and "pray, pray, pray," but Joseph wasn't fazed.

Joseph said he won't be going to any temples, but will be praying for a game without rain.

"In tough conditions it's tough to get our game going, so we're hoping and praying for a bit of (good) weather," Joseph said.

"When we've got the ball and guys are really excited about playing, we've got a different style of play; we're not as big as others, but we're quick."

The Japan team watched the England-New Zealand test on Saturday, while Joseph went to the test at Twickenham, where the former All Blacks loose forward enjoyed the cut and thrust in the rain.

"Those types of games are exactly what rugby's all about in my view. But I suspect the game that we play, how the All Blacks play, and the fact England have had a few matches, it could be a little bit different this weekend.

"We don't want rain come kickoff time, and we've shown over the last couple of years if we can get our game going we can push teams hard."

By Associated Press 13 November 2018, 12:00AM
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