Today's rugby news as World Cup star to play through tragedy, England team slammed and new Eddie Jones bombshell emerges

These are your rugby headlines on Saturday, October 14.

Jones 'set for Japan interview'

Australia boss Eddie Jones is reportedly set to hold an in-person interview for the role of Japan head coach early next month in yet another bombshell story regarding the Wallabies coach.

Ahead of his side's World Cup clash with Wales, the 63-year-old found himself the target of allegations that he had held talks with Japanese rugby bosses over returning to the role just weeks before the start of the tournament in France. While he has repeatedly denied the links and stressed his commitment to the Wallabies,the rumours have refused to go away and continue to follow him even after his side were dumped out of the tournament in the pool stages.

And now ABC News has reported that a Zoom video interview was confirmed to have been conducted with Jones on the eve of the tournament, with the Australian coach now allegedly one of three candidates to meet with a selection panel for a further in-person interview at the start of November.

He would replace Jamie Joseph, who announced during the summer that he would step away from the role after the World Cup, regardless of how his now-eliminated side performed.

"The Japanese Rugby Football Union (JRFU) began its process shortly after his announcement," the outlet's report claimed. "It is understood that Jones is the preferred candidate of JRFU president Masato Tsuchida, who sits on the selection panel."

"The JFRU is operating on the understanding that Jones has a clause in his contract with Rugby Australia that allows him to be released after the World Cup.

"The ABC understands Jones expressed strong interest in the role, even before his online interview in August," it continued. [He] is frustrated with the high-performance model in Australia and delays in implementing Rugby Australia's plans to move to a centralised system similar to Irish rugby, which is run by Australian performance director David Nucifora".

Dupont ready to 'suffer'

France captain Antoine Dupont says he is "ready to suffer" as he prepares to make a stunning return to World Cup action having been named in the starting line-up for the blockbuster quarter-final against South Africa.

The talismanic fly-half will skipper his side once again just three weeks after his tournament was thrown into doubt by a facial fracture sustained against Namibia. He underwent surgery as he targeted a return to action as soon as possible and now just 20 days after having a metal plate inserted into his face, he is ready to take on the reigning world champions in Paris.

Such a speedy return has raised safety concerns among some rugby fans, but Dupont has assured doubters that he is physically, mentally and technically ready to take to the field again.

“I feel very good on both counts (physically and mentally)," he said. "At the time, I didn’t know how serious my injury was. I thought the competition was over.

"I had to wait for the tests, the appointment with the surgeon and the operation. My recovery went well. I was able to return gradually, and I had several weeks to do all that. Today, I’m at the top of my game, physically and technically.

“It was a very gradual (return). I started running at low intensity," he added. "I started with contact in the middle of last week, and I’m finding my feet again. At the beginning of the week, I was able to get back into it fully. I found myself back in collective situations, in-game situations. That boosted my confidence. I didn’t feel any pain. That reassured me. It was important to go through all the stages.”

Fiji star to play on through tragedy

Fiji hooker Sam Matavesi is ready to represent his country in their quarter-final against England despite the death of his father just days ago, according to coach Simon Raiwalui.

The 31-year-old had returned to England earlier this week after his father, former Cornwall player Sireli Matavesi, passed away after an illness. The tragedy - the second to hit the Fijian camp during the tournament after the death of Josua Tuisova's son, had put Matavesi's participation in the game in doubt.

But he is already back in France and has been named on the bench for Sunday's game in Marseille, with Raiwalui left in "no doubt" that he will be ready to play in honour of his later father.

"He came back in this morning, he was adamant he wanted to be here. He's a fantastic young man," the coach said. "He's very good on his details so there's no worries there, I've no doubt that he'll be ready for the game and ready to play."

"He told me earlier in the week that his father had fallen ill. I've got a connection there with Josh, his older brother, who stayed with me at Racing [and] Sam came over as well, so I've known them quite a long time. When he told me (about his father) he was devastated, as you would be. I really pushed for him to get back and see his dad.

"But he assured me right from the start that his father would want him to play this game," he added. "He wanted to play this game. I just made sure he had every opportunity to be with his family at this important time."

"One of my philosophies is always family first, that is the most important thing in life, your family. He's got to go home. His brothers have come over with him for the weekend so they'll get to enjoy the occasion with him and celebrate his father's life.

Gatland has done 'amazing' job - Young

Former Wales international Dai Young has praised Warren Gatland ahead of his side's quarter-final clash against Argentina quarter-final, describing him as "a master psychologist as well as a great coach".

Gatland has overseen a remarkable turnaround in Welsh rugby since he took over at the end of the last year, with his side overcoming a tumultous Six Nations marked by issues on and off the field to reach the last eight of the World Cup with four wins from four.

The squad are playing with belief again and have been tipped to beat the Pumas to progress to only their third ever semi-final where they will play either New Zealand or Ireland.

And ex-Cardiff boss Young has credited the coach with the upturn in fortunes after getting his team to "rise to the challenge".

“Like everyone else, I hope Wales can win and go even deeper into the tournament. I would rather have seen them playing Japan, but I expect them to be good enough to beat Argentina,” he said. “Just look at where they are now compared with a year ago. It has been an amazing turnaround and Warren Gatland deserves a lot of credit.

“What he does so well is to get the players to believe in what they are doing. They put their trust in him and he shows them he believes in them. He has become a master psychologist as well as a great coach. Half the time you don’t know what he’s thinking and that means nobody can feel comfortable. What that does is make everyone work harder, apply themselves even more.

“One of the reasons we’ve done so well under Gats is that he has been able to get his teams to rise to the challenge," he added. "They like nothing better than to be written off, made the underdogs and be told they have something to prove. Welsh teams traditionally thrive when they have their backs against the wall.”

“I’ve had dealings with him in the past and he is a really good rugby man. He’s a typical competitive Aussie, but nothing he does will faze Gats. He will get across his messages for the week and it is going to take a very good team to beat Wales."

England team slammed

England's 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward has slammed the team selection that will see winger Henry Arundell miss out against Fiji.

Arundell scored five tries in the 71-0 win over Chile in the opening group-stage match but has not featured since.

There are rumours over a bust-up with skipper Owen Farrell but Woodward is not impressed.

"On the whole, the team still isn’t quick enough for me — even if it should be good enough to beat Fiji," he said.

"I still don’t understand why Henry Arundell can’t get a game. To me, it’s absolute madness. What a waste it is to have a player of Arundell’s undoubted quality carrying the water. I would have him at full back alongside a couple of the flyers who did not even make the trip."