Italy captain Quintin Geldenhuys may have said Friday that the pitch at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground was a “quick fast track,” and that he was looking forward to an “open, running game” when the Azzurri take on Japan on Saturday, but Japan coach Eddie Jones wasn’t buying into it.
“I don’t think so,” Jones said when asked if he thought the visitors would throw the ball around. “They are going to play to their strengths. They’ve got a hooker (Leonardo Ghiraldini) with over 60 caps, (lock Marco) Bortolami has over 100 and (flanker Mauro) Bergamasco is going to play his 100th test. So I doubt they will play away from that.”
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