Stormers set to smarten up
The Cape side were renowned for their uncompromising physicality and miserly defence under previous coach Allister Coetzee, but despite their consistency in those areas they were criticised for a lack of attacking flair and an inability to step up in play-off matches.
Jones has made it clear that he does not want to discard what has worked well for the Stormers, but sees his role as adding some balance to their game by getting them to play a 'smarter' brand of rugby.
"Balancing your game comes from being smart, understanding the game and what you need at that time," he told rugby365 in an exclusive interview.
He explained that while power will still be important, the focus will be on using it intelligently in the right areas.
"You want powerful teams, but you want powerful plus skilful, plus smart teams, then you make yourself very hard to beat.
"We need to have that power, but we need to have other strings to our bow, we can't just be this team that relies on smashing people over, we have got to be able to move the ball into space, kick into space, find space," he said.
One of the Stormers' major blindspots in recent years has been their attacking game, with four-try bonus points few and far between and plenty of frustration about their lack of creativity.
Jones is known for producing attacking rugby, and said that he will be drilling home certain basics to ensure that the Stormers are better equipped to create scoring opportunities.
"It is not so much finishing as creating opportunities. To me there are some parameters of attack you have got to have – you have got to have some shape to your attack, you have got to have linkage and you have got to have motion.
"All those things give you options, when you have got options in attack then you put questions to the defence and make the defence make mistakes.
"If you are not putting questions to the defence all you are relying on then is physical power," he said.
Although the expectations in Cape Town will be high next season Jones is confident that he will be able to stand the heat, and says he is looking forward to coaching in a 'rugby country'.
"You are only under pressure when you don't know what you are doing. I am confident we can play good rugby, I don't know how long it is going to take.
"One of the attractions of coming here was definitely coming to a rugby country. I love rugby, so it is fantastic to come to a country that loves rugby," he said.
If Jones' 'smartness' can bring more balance to the Stormers game and improve their attacking potential then he will be hailed as a genius, but if not he is likely to find out how tough it can be in a 'rugby country' like South Africa.
By Michael de Vries
