Injury cloud has silver lining for Japan coach Jones

Japan's head coach Eddie Jones (2nd R) talks with the captain Michael Leitch (2nd L) after winning the Asian Five Nations 2014 and qualifying for the 2015 Rugby World cup in England by their victory over team Hong Kong at the National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo May 25, 2014. REUTERS/Yuya Shino

(Reuters) - Japan coach Eddie Jones will be without eight senior players for internationals against the Maori All Blacks, Georgia and Romania next month, but rather than cursing his luck he says it is "fantastic timing" with the 2015 World Cup looming.

Japan open their World Cup campaign against South Africa on Sept. 19 next year and Jones told a news conference the raft of injuries offered him the perfect opportunity to run the rule over potential squad players for the tournament in England.