Rugby World Cup 2019: I think someone found it on the field – Jones makes light of Farrell nose injury
Eddie Jones joked it was a good job Owen Farrell is not looking for love in Kobe after the England star had a chunk taken out of his nose in the win over the United States.
England maintained their positive start to the Rugby World Cup with a 45-7 victory over the USA on Thursday, though Farrell was in the wars.
The fly-half took a high hit from Quill, who received the first red card of the tournament and will subsequently attend a hearing before an independent judicial committee to decide the length of his suspension.
While Farrell was left with a large gash on the bridge of his nose, Jones, at least, managed to see the funny side.
“I think the [England team] are about to barbecue part of his nose,” Jones told a news conference.
“I think someone’s found it on the field. He’s missing part of his nose which is unfortunate, but he’s married, he’s got a child, so he’s not looking for any young lass in Kobe tonight so he’ll be OK.”
#ENGvUSA @owen_faz took time to meet some local fans at the team hotel in Kobe after tonight’s match against the USA. #RWC2019 #CarryThemHome pic.twitter.com/l1VW22q4Gv
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) September 26, 2019
Farrell, along with the rest of England’s squad, will have eight days to recover before taking on Argentina in the third Pool C outing – a clash Jones knows will present a step up in intensity.
“We will have a short break and then we will focus on Argentina,” added Jones, who believes the humidity of the Japanese climate is making for a unique spectacle.
“We understand that they will be playing for their life and they are a passionate, proud, rugby country.
“So what is going to be important is that we match that passion then play with a bit of control and smarts about the game.
“We will review the [USA] game and then look at the 23 we need to play against Argentina. Look at the conditions. Tokyo is going to be 27 degrees, 80 per cent humidity.
“It’s going to be a wet-weather game and we will pick a side to play wet-weather rugby. Sunlight will be shining but it will be wet weather.
“And that’s the uniqueness of the World Cup. I think this World Cup is unique because of the conditions. We haven’t played a World Cup in these conditions before.”
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