Japan rugby team due to pick ex-Wallaby coach Jones

Former Australia coach Eddie Jones was expected to be named head coach of Japan's national rugby team Monday to replace All Blacks legend John Kirwan. The Japan Rugby Football Union said in a short notice that it was to hold a news conference at 5:00 pm (0800 GMT) to announce a new structure for the national team, including the new head coach and assistant coach. Local media reported last week that the union had picked Jones, 51, who took the Wallabies to the 2003 World Cup final, for the job. Jones, whose wife is Japanese, has been managing Japan's Top League side Suntory Sungoliath since 2009. He was technical adviser to South Africa when the Springboks won the 2007 World Cup in France. In the 2010-2011 season, Suntory finished runners-up in the Top League and won the separate national championship under Jones. This season they are currently leading the Top League after eight straight wins. Jones emerged as Kirwan's likely successor after Japan came home winless from the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Japan will host the World Cup in 2019 and will be looking to avoid the embarrassment of becoming the first host country to fail to make the knockout stages. Kirwan failed to break the Brave Blossoms' 20-year World Cup win drought at the New Zealand tournament. He opted not to seek a new contract when his current five-year deal expires at the end of this month.