Jones was delighted to hear talk from the players that they had “emptied their tank” during the big win at the weekend. “That’s one of the most satisfying things I heard because that’s what we want our players to do, empty the tank,” he said. “That’s how they should feel at the end of the game, absolutely exhausted.”

He also alluded to how his players have gleefully taken to onsens, Japanese hot spring baths, in droves. “It's a great way of recovering,” he said. “You know you think about how smart the Japanese are, 150 years ago each village had its own onsen and it was perfect recovery. Hot, cold, you had some social direction so you were relaxed. It’s perfect so our players are better today than they were last week.”

Last week, Jones claimed that because Japan’s second team are the All Blacks, all the pressure was on them to satisfy their 120 million fans here. But when asked where the country’s allegiance would be for the final, he claimed he wasn't sure. “All I know is that we’re excited about the prospects,” he said. “We know the final comes with pressure but we’re excited about handling that and we feel that’s an advantage we’ve got.”

Jones, who was taking notes in the crowd at the semi-final on Sunday when South Africa beat Wales 19-16, was asked what he thought of the match. “The only thing we are worried about is how the Springboks turn up this Saturday,” he said.

“When you are in the final of a World Cup you have done a lot of things right and they are a massively aggressive, physical forward pack. They are going to be a difficult side to beat. We know they can play differently, we are aware of that. But we also know that they are going to come through the front door. There’s not too many Springbok teams you play against that don't come through the front door.”

He also believed the best of his team was still in front of them and that they could most definitely improve on their performance against New Zealand. “A hundred per cent,” he said. “Look, we played a great team on Saturday, but we don't feel we have played as well as we can, and the challenge is to keep improving. We will see how we can keep improving for this game and that’s the exciting part for us.”

When told interest in the team back home was through the roof and that every flight to Japan from England was now overbooked, Jones was clearly pleased. “I think it's great that you give the country something to cheer about,” he said. “With Brexit at the moment, they probably need something to cheer about. It’s the job of the team to make the country happy.”

Having led Australia to the final of the 2003 World Cup as well as engineered Japan’s huge upset over South Africa in 2015 and now England’s heroic win over the All Blacks, Jones’ legacy as one of the greatest modern big-game coaches in rugby is secure.

But still, a victory in the final would leave him with few coaching peers and, luckily, he has a wealth of experience to call on. “It’s always in the final about doing less,” he said. “We’re at the end of a seven-week tournament now so it’s about just focusing on what is going to have a significant part of the game. It's not about doing everything; it's about doing certain things right.”

Jones was joined on the podium by bemused England scrum half Ben Youngs, and it was clear from the outset that the outspoken, straight-shooting coach takes the pressure of his players by deftly absorbing the media’s focus. When told that Wales coach Warren Gatland had said England may have played their best game already and that team’s don’t always get up for a final, Jones could not resist being Jones one last time. “Guys can you just send my best wishes to Warren,” he said. “And make sure he enjoys the third and fourth place play-off.”