Head coach Steve Borthwick is “doing a great job” in charge of England, says new Japan boss Eddie Jones.
Jones, 64, was sacked by England nine months before last autumn’s Rugby World Cup and replaced by Borthwick, who worked under the Australian during his first stint in charge of Japan and at England.
England face the Brave Blossoms in Tokyo on Saturday in what will be Jones’ first game back in charge of Japan after he resigned as Australia coach in October.
“England is a high-pressured job, you get more scrutiny than any other job in the world,” Jones said.
“For a young guy he [Borthwick] is doing a great job.”
Borthwick, 44, had a disappointing first Six Nations in charge before losing three of England’s four World Cup warm-up matches, including a first defeat by Fiji.
However, a third-placed finish at the World Cup and an impressive victory over Ireland in this year’s Six Nations leaves his side in a strong position heading into their summer tour of Japan and New Zealand.
“He [Borthwick] has handled that [scrutiny] pretty well,” former England boss Jones added.
“He is really assembling that team and kept a number of the senior players and is starting to bring through some young players.
“He has done a really, really good job.”