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Cape Town - New Stormers coach Eddie Jones has promised a more attractive game style in next year’s Super Rugby competition, while at the same time expanding the team’s fan base.
WATCH: Eddie Jones talks transformation
The Stormers have come in for criticism in recent years for lacking attacking spark and often struggled to bag vital four-try bonus points.
But Jones is intent on changing that - without taking away from the traditional strengths of South African rugby.
He is also hoping that the team’s brand of rugby will win over many new fans, those supporting New Zealand teams included.
It is well-known that Cape Town has several rugby fans that support teams from New Zealand, especially seven-time Super Rugby champions, the Crusaders.
Those fans have earned themselves the nickname of ‘Cape Crusaders’ with tensions often rising between rival fans at Newlands when the Stormers face the Kiwis.
When probed about the issue and whether he’d like to win over those fans, Jones told News24 Live on Thursday:
“Well, I think if you play good rugby you win any supporters over. The aim is to play good rugby so hopefully we’ll win them over.”
Jones though said he understood the diverse South African culture.
“Transformation is part of South African society so I just accept that that's part of how rugby operates here. If you look at the diversity of the Western Province team - you’ve got people from all regions, all racial backgrounds.
“And that’s one of the great strengths of this organisation. You’ve got such great diversity. And obviously, when you’ve got diversity, you can have conflicting ideas, and the job is to make everyone cohesive.”
