Australia
Eddie Jones 'better than he was before'
ESPN Staff
December 2, 2013
Eddie Jones is expecting to be fine after leaving hospital after suffering a stroke © Getty Images
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Japan coach Eddie Jones has said he is "fine" and expecting to make a full recovery after suffering a stroke that left him in hospital for nearly 40 days. Jones faced the media on Friday, less than a week after being released from hospital.

The stroke has left him with mobility problems down his left side, but he was animated and spoke clearly and moved his limbs and fingers smoothly while facing the media.

"I have coached officially for 17 years, and it was the first time I actually had breaks from coaching," he told a press conference in Tokyo. "I am fine. I will be better than I was before."

Jones, 53, said it was "frustrating" to watch Japan's three-Test European tour from his hospital bed, as well as being forced to sit out Japan's 54-6 home defeat to New Zealand after being taken ill on October 15 and placed in intensive care. "It really reinforced the fact that we got to play Japanese-style rugby. That's a possession-based game. We've got to be better at attacking."

Jones said he will continue to work his side up the rankings with the hope to bring Japan from their current ranking at 14 to the top 10 by the 2015 World Cup. Japan will host the following World Cup in 2019.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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