About this episode
Australia A’s 71–7 win over Japan A was more than a scoreline — it was a snapshot of where Japanese rugby stands right now. In this episode, David Pembroke and Ewen McKenzie dissect the match from Tokyo, joined by Eddie Jones, who explains what his players learned, how Japan must evolve, and why he’s focused on long-term growth over short-term wins. They also look ahead to this Saturday’s Japan v Australia test, asking what needs to change for the Brave Blossoms to compete. From tactical breakdowns to cultural insights, this is an honest look at what went wrong, what went right, and how Japan’s identity is shaping its rugby future. Also in this episode: Japan A vs Australia A — the key moments that defined the match Why Japan’s line-out and maul strategy failed under pressure Ewen McKenzie’s player-by-player analysis Eddie Jones on discipline, learning and adaptability Japan’s broadcast brilliance – lessons for world rugby The high-school and university system holding back Japan’s elite PLUS: The “samurai spirit” driving Japanese rugby and how Eddie Jones plans to modernise it before facing the Wallabies this weekend in Tokyo. Want more from Rugby Unity? Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive content, blogs, behind-the-scenes insights and full podcast access — all in one place: Rugby Unity | Substack One sport. Millions of voices. This is Rugby Unity. 📧 Get in touch: info@rugbyunity.com.au Thanks to Eleven labs for providing a grant to Rugby Unity so that we can use their world leading software. TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.