Eddie Jones has turned up the heat on beleaguered South African rugby coach Peter de Villiers, describing his much maligned new game plan as "nonsense".

Former Wallabies coach Jones was a member of previous Boks coach Jake White's staff when South Africa won the Rugby World Cup in France last year.

His comments come amid rumours of disunity and confusion among the South African players and after de Villiers, the first black man to coach the Springboks, was booed loudly by fans following Saturday's 27-15 loss to Australia in Durban.

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

"Mate, 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.

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

"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."

De Villiers has accepted responsibility for a Springboks' slide since the Cup - just one win in five Tri-Nations games.

"If a company is doing badly, then you blame the managing director, so it is right and fair that the coach be held responsible," De Villiers told reporters in Johannesburg.

"I know people are angry and rightfully so."

SARU president Regan Hoskins reiterated his support for the coach.

"Peter de Villiers, his management team and playing squad have my unequivocal backing," Hoskins told South Afrivan newspaper The Times.

"Peter's future is secure - we are not in the business of sacking Springbok coaches within three months of their first match."

South Africa were to name their team later Tuesday for Saturday's clash with Australia at Ellis Park.

Winger JP Pietersen was ruled out with a hamstring strain and Odwa Ndungane was called into the squad as his replacement.

Hooker Bismarck du Plessis (knee) and captain Victor Matfield (groin) are in some doubt but flying winger Bryan Habana is an outside chance of recovering from a hamstring injury.

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