For the first time since resigning as coach of Australia following the team's disastrous 2023 World Cup campaign, the master agitator is back to face his old team on Saturday in Tokyo.
The veteran mentor controversially took over as coach of the Brave Blossoms just six weeks later and was forced to repeatedly deny he had been in discussions with Japanese officials during Australia's failed Cup campaign.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt, mindful of the workload during a hectic 2025 campaign, has admitted to the "risk" of making 13 personnel changes, including installing two-Test forward Nick Champion de Crespigny as captain.
Japan have never beaten the Wallabies in six previous attempts but Jones, who won nine of 10 games as England coach against Australia, smells blood.
"One thing you've seen with Australia is that when they do get under pressure, they can make mistakes," Jones told SEN.
"Underdogs keep fighting ... stay close and you never know what's going to happen."
Asked where victory would rank in the 65-year-old's career, Jones said it'd be "right up there".
"You want to do well. I love Australia but, when you play against them, you want to beat them and there's no better thing than beating your own country," he said.
"We'll give it a red-hot go."
Jones was returned as Wallabies coach at Dave Rennie's expense to deliver what he described as a "shake up" of a stagnant program.
He left less than a year into his five-year deal.
"On a hiding to nothing," he said of his limited time in the saddle ahead of the French showpiece.
"I wanted to shake up Australian rugby. I'd been watching for years and the chairman (Hamish McLennan) had the right idea.
"And we got a few things done. We got (Joseph-Aukuso) Suaalii across the line (from the NRL) and we've seen the impact he's had on the team.
"The other guys have been getting a lot of good influence from him."
Jones also declared 11-Test Wallabies winger Mark Nawaqanitawase would return to the code a complete player when he leaves the NRL's Sydney Roosters at the end of next season.
"He could go for 20 minutes, then he'd run out of steam," Jones said of the 25-year-old, whom he coached at the World Cup.
"Didn't have the capacity to keep doing it. At the Roosters he built that capacity. He can do magic things and now he's got that work ethic."
And, as the NRL threatened 10-year bans for players and their agents who participate in R360, Jones argued rugby's touted rebel league would be good for the 15-a-side code.
"You've got a status quo and at the moment international rugby's flying, but domestic rugby in most countries is struggling," he said.
"You've just got to look at the Australia-New Zealand situation in Super Rugby.
"Get a new product out there. Give it a go, see what happens.
"It's probably only going to be the older players that go initially. Let's see if it can bring new fans to the game because we need more people watching the game."
Regular Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson will come off the bench on Saturday while flyhalf Carter Gordon, released from his NRL contract earlier this month, has been left out in favour of utility back Hamish Stewart.
Ex-All Blacks front-rower Aidan Ross was also included on the bench, giving him the chance to be just the fifth man to represent both Australia and New Zealand in Test rugby.
Back-rower Ben Gunter is one of four Australia-raised players in Japan's match-day squad, along with centre Dylan Riley, lock Jack Cornelsen and replacement outside back Sam Greene.
with AP
