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Eddie Jones has warned under-fire South Africa coach Peter de Villiers he must change his tactics or face the sack.

De Villiers is currently enduring the most difficult week of his short time in charge of the world champions following their 27-15 loss to Australia in Durban last weekend - their third consecutive defeat.

The 51-year-old coach and his captain Victor Matfield were roundly booed after the game by the home supporters who have seen their team win just once in five Tri-Nations games.

That has dropped the Springboks to third behind the Wallabies in the official IRB rankings - their lowest position since winning the World Cup under former coach Jake White last year.

And now Jones, who was a member of White's World Cup-winning staff, has joined that chorus of disapproval against De Villiers, describing his tactics as "nonsense".

"The Springboks will get worse if they continue in this way," Jones told The Independent.

"No-one in world rugby is playing the way their coach is talking about, not successfully anyway.

"Everyone has discipline, policies and a procedure in their game. The way he is talking is nonsense. You can't just play an expansive, wide game.

"This is still a very good squad of players. Most are even at their peak or approaching it. So there is plenty of talent but what they need is the organisation and discipline."

De Villiers' elevation to the Springboks top job at the start of the year raised some eyebrows because of his lack of first-team coaching experience.

Despite his success in charge of the Emerging Springboks and the South Africa Under-21s, most pundits expected Heyneke Meyer to take over from White after he led the Bulls to the Super 14 title.

And Jones believes De Villiers' lack of experience is now starting to show in what is regarded as the toughest job in world rugby.

"The hard thing for Peter is that he has never coached professionally and this is one of the most difficult teams to coach," Jones continued.

"They're attacking off everything. And they're going lateral, not through defences. You have to go through sides like Australia and New Zealand first.

"But he has to change his philosophy because it doesn't fit these players. It's not credible.

"Peter's big test now is to learn. If he learns, he can turn it around. But if he continues to be stubborn, he won't last long because his tactics won't work."

On Monday SARU president Oregan Hoskins offered his support of De Villiers in a statement posted on their official website.

"I would like to make it clear that Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, his management team and playing squad have my unequivocal backing and that of the South African Rugby Union president's council and of the board of SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd," Hoskins said.

"I would like to underline that Peter's future is secure - we are not in the business of sacking Springbok coaches within three months of them playing their first match."

De Villiers will lead the Springboks in their final game of the Tri-Nations against Australia in Johannesburg on Saturday.

SportingLife / Eurosport