England coach Eddie Jones says rugby union has turned into a stop-start visual product similar to the NFL and is calling for at least two fundamental changes to speed up play.

Australian Jones pointed to the dramatic impact one rule tweak has made to the NRL, which returned to action last week and was a notably faster spectacle.

The “six-again” rule reduced the penalty count and had singularly transformed the nature of the game, Jones said.

“It’s definitely become less of a wrestle in the NRL and a faster, more continuous game,” the former Wallabies coach told Sky Sport in New Zealand.

“I think we need to make that adjustment in rugby. I think the game’s gradually moved along a track and hasn’t been looked at carefully enough.

“Now we’ve got this game that’s almost like NFL.”

Jones said the typical Test match now lasts longer than 100 minutes, with at least 65 minutes taken up without action.

The concept of tiredness had almost disappeared, he said, not helped by more than half of any starting side being replaced late in games.

Jones said reducing the reserve bench from eight to six players would have an immediate benefit.

“I reckon that’d make a hell of a difference. It would introduce some fatigue into the game,” he said.

“With eight reserves, we’ve got such a power game now. I think it’s gone too far down the power line and we need to get some more continuity back.”

Re-set scrums chew up the game clock by minutes at a time and Jones said infringements should result in a quick tap or kick for touch but not a shot at goal.

How to handle scrums has also been addressed by former Wallabies captain Andrew Slack, who rounded up a group of thinkers in the Australian game to brainstorm beneficial law changes.

The group has approached Rugby Australia and it is hoped some of their ideas will be considered for the relaunched domestic Super Rugby season planned for July.

New Zealand’s Super Rugby competition kicks of next week and referees have promised to be more severe on ruck infringements, believing it is fundamental to a free-flowing game.