9 Jun 2012

Sport: Master vs apprentice for Tonga coach

8:17 am on 9 June 2012

It will be a case of master vs apprentice when Tonga coach Toutai Kefu sends his team out to face Japan in Saturday's Pacific Nations Cup clash in Tokyo.

The 38 year-old Kefu is now retired from playing and coaches professionally in Japan.

In the opposite coaching box on Saturday night will be the man who coached him during his final few years playing for the Wallabies, Eddie Jones.

Kefu says there are already small signs that the former Brumbies mentor's methods are showing through.

"You can kind of see what he is trying to do, in the style that suits him, I still think it's early days for him, I think the team won't benefit from his coaching for at least another six to 12 months, so they are still in early days, in terms of how Eddie wants it to play."

Tonga coach Toutai Kefu.