"Ruan Pienaar, that's who I would pick," said Jones, who was part of the Springboks victorious World Cup coaching team and has since taken the reigns at Saracens.
"They should pick him at 10 and just stick with him for a couple of years. He's such a talented player."
Pienaar made his international debut in 2006 and currently has 14 caps to his name, although debate continues as to where he is best employed in the backline. The son of former Springbok fullback Gysie Pienaar, Ruan's ability to play almost anywhere from No9 to 15 seems to have counted against him as he attempts to become a regular in his country's starting line up.
Jones, however, is in no doubt as to Pienaar's best position.
"Ruan trained during the World Cup at [fly-half] and, to me, he looks the most like a Steve Larkham.
"He's got outstanding pace, he's got great catch, pass - he'll have to learn how to play that position, and it will take a couple of seasons, but you know Steve Larkham wasn't the finished product until three or four years down the track.
"It will take that investment but to me Ruan's got everything you would need to have as a good fly-half for the Springboks - and he's tough, you know he doesn't mind mixing it.
"Butch James has done a tremendous job, but he is playing back-to-back seasons so it is going to catch up with him, and he is getting older."
Lions supporters wanting to make their own judgement on Pienaar's merits can watch him live on Sky Sports on Saturday, October 25 when the Sharks face the Blue Bulls in this year's Currie Cup Final.
South Africa's premier domestic final is likely to see Pienaar play alongside fellow Springbok Francois Steyn, another of the Republic's hugely-talented utility players.
While Jones sees Pienaar as a potential world beater in the No10 shirt, he believes Steyn can make an equally effective contribution from inside centre.
If the two are impressive as individuals, Jones feels that a Pienaar / Steyn partnership could fire the Boks to the top of the world standings.
"I think at this stage Francois is an inside centre. He was outstanding at the World Cup - a big, strong guy, gets over the gainline, very good kicking game, great defender - so you could actually use him as a second stand-off as well.
"So going forward you could have a Ruan Pienaar at 10 and a Francois Steyn at 12 - it not only gives you running options, it gives you kicking options and also passing options.
"Imagine playing against them when they're on song? Plus they're young and have many years to come."
