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Butch: Eddie will boost Stormers

Cape Town - Former Springbok flyhalf Butch James believes getting Eddie Jones as new head coach would aid the Stormers.

The Capetonians are on the hunt for a new coach following the departure of Allister Coetzee to Japan.

Media reports earlier this week stated that Jones is the favourite to replace Coetzee at the Stormers in an expanded Super Rugby competition next year.

Jones, the current Japan coach, was initially chosen to also coach Japan’s new Super Rugby team, but that may not pan out with the team reportedly struggling to take shape.

Jones denied that he had signed a deal with the Stormers but admitted that he had been "in talks" with the franchise.

James, who was the Bok flyhalf when they won the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, feels Jones will make a positive contribution to the Stormers who are still searching for a maiden Super Rugby title.

Jones was a consultant to Jake White’s Boks at the 2007 tournament where he helped James and his fellow backline players with their attacking game.

South Africa beat England 15-6 in that World Cup final in Paris, and Jones was praised for his role in the success, with former coach Nick Mallett calling the move to appoint him a "masterstroke" at the time.

Mallett credited Jones with improved backline play by South Africa at the tournament.

Interestingly, Coetzee was the Boks’ official assistant coach back then but he had copped criticism at the time for the team’s apparent lack of invention.

Coetzee was also heavily criticised during his tenure at the Stormers for turning them into a defensive-orientated side not showing enough enterprise.

Under Coetzee’s guidance, the Stormers were contenders, but fell short when it really mattered in the knockout phases of the competition.

“One thing the Stormers have been lacking is their attack, and Eddie can help in that regard,” James said on SuperSport’s weekly rugby show, Boots & All, on Thursday night.

“He fitted nicely into our squad in 2007. He was an assistant coach then and knew his place, he didn’t get too involved, but when he did speak everyone tended to listen.”

Jones coached the Wallabies between 2001 and 2005 and had a successful spell with the Brumbies in Super Rugby where he helped them to their first title in 2001.

He has also coached at the Reds in Australia, Saracens in England as well as Suntory Sungoliath in Japan.

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