Coles grateful to Japan boss Jones for launch of England career

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England lock Alex Coles says he will always be thankful to Eddie Jones for giving him his international debut, ahead of facing his former coach this weekend. Japan boss Jones, who…

England lock Alex Coles says he will always be thankful to Eddie Jones for giving him his international debut, ahead of facing his former coach this weekend.

Japan boss Jones, who enjoyed a seven-year stint as England coach between 2015 and 2022, takes his current side to Twickenham on Saturday.

Coles has become a Test regular since securing a starting spot last year, but it was Jones who gave him his international debut in November 2022.

"As a young player coming through and having not experienced it, you heard all these stories about Eddie. I was certainly apprehensive and he certainly had that aura about him, you felt a little bit on edge around him.

"But I'm so grateful to him because at that stage in my career in my own head I didn't really believe that I was ready for that level.

"He saw something in me and made me believe that I could be at that international level and pushed me to work on my game."

Jones, who remains England's most successful coach by win percentage, was sacked after that autumn series following a drop-off in results and a worsening relationship with England's Rugby Football Union.

"I hope he's warmly received on Saturday because he played a massive part in English rugby history," said Coles of Jones, who steered England to a 2019 World Cup final defeat by South Africa in Yokohama.

"You could compare him to the football manager Jose Mourinho and people like that who bring their own sort of aura, some controversy and polarisation."

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