Eddie Jones Uses Geese Formation Videos as Coaching Tool for Japan Rugby Team
Japan rugby coach Eddie Jones is showing his squad videos of geese flying in formation ahead of their second Test against Australia.
Eddie Jones, head coach of Japan's rugby union team, has revealed he shows his players videos of geese flying in formation as part of his coaching approach ahead of the team's second Test match against Australia. The unconventional method draws on the way geese rotate leadership at the front of a V-formation during flight — a concept Jones appears to be applying to team cohesion and collective effort. Jones made the revelation in the build-up to the fixture, which follows Japan's narrow 35-32 defeat to Australia in Osaka in the first Test last week. Jones, one of rugby's most experienced international coaches, has previously led Australia and England at Test level before taking charge of Japan for a second stint. The two-Test series against Australia gives Japan a chance to level the series with a win in the second match.
Why it matters
The series offers Japan a meaningful benchmark against a top-tier rugby nation, and Jones's methods attract attention given his high-profile coaching career across multiple major rugby programs.
What's next
The second Test between Japan and Australia will determine whether Japan can level the series following their three-point defeat in Osaka.
Key facts
- Japan lost the first Test 35-32 to Australia in Osaka
- Eddie Jones is using videos of geese flying in formation as a coaching tool
- The revelation came ahead of the second and final Test of the series against Australia
- Jones is on his second stint as Japan head coach, having previously coached Australia and England
Bias & framing notes
Both sources report the same core fact — Jones's use of geese formation videos — but provide minimal detail. The Straits Times focuses briefly on the first Test result, while the BBC leads with the coaching curiosity. Neither source provides direct quotes from Jones or further context for the method, limiting depth across both reports.
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