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Bakkies: Stormers' loss is England's gain

Cape Town - Former Springbok lock Bakkies Botha feels Eddie Jones would prove a shrewd appointment for England.

Jones, despite being just a week into a three-year contract with the Stormers, on Friday ditched the Cape franchise to become England’s first foreign coach.

"If Eddie is appointed it will be a good step and a positive step forward for England," Botha told AFP on Thursday.

He was speaking ahead of the Barbarians' clash with Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday, in what will be his final professional match.

"If it happens, the Stormers' loss will be England's gain. He will definitely be a success. He knows what he wants.

"Just look at the Japan team he coached to victory over the Springboks - they outplayed us through intelligence, not brutality or strength, and that's the type of coach Eddie is."

Botha and Jones worked together when the Springboks won the 2007 World Cup, when the Australian served as a technical advisor to then Springbok coach Jake White.

Barbarians team:

15 Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes & New Zealand), 14 Waisake Naholo (Highlanders & New Zealand), 13 Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies & Australia), 12 Ryan Crotty (Crusaders & New Zealand), 11 Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders & Fiji), 10 Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders & New Zealand), 9 Tawera Kerr Barlow (Chiefs & New Zealand), 8 Stephen Hoiles (Waratahs & Australia), 7 Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), 6 Scott Fardy (Brumbies & Australia), 5 Victor Matfield (Northampton Saints & South Africa, captain), 4 Lood de Jager (Cheetahs & South Africa), 3 Charlie Faumuina (Blues & New Zealand), 2 Stephen Moore (Brumbies & Australia), 1 Thomas du Toit (Sharks).

Substitutes (from): 16 James Hanson (Melbourne Rebels & Australia), 17 Jamie Mackintosh (Chiefs & New Zealand), 18 Toby Smith (Melbourne Rebels & Australia), 19 Bakkies Botha (South Africa), 20 Jarrad Butler (Brumbies), 22 Cobus Reinach (Sharks & South Africa), 23 Pat Lambie (Sharks & South Africa), 24 Francois Venter (Cheetahs), 25 Joe Tomane (Brumbies & Australia)

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