Eddie Jones is seeking the help of Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola © Getty Images

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Japan coach Eddie Jones has sought the help of Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola as he looks to prepare for his side's World Cup campaign.

Jones, who coached Australia to second place at the 2003 World Cup, has spent time with Guardiola in the hope of improving his tactics and planning.

Guardiola has enjoyed great success as coach of two of the world's top domestic football teams, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, and is regarded by Jones as the "best soccer coach in the world."

"The main thing we learned this year was that we have to be tactically more flexible," said Jones. "We need to react to situations on the field and make adjustments to the way we play. The soccer approach is called tactical periodisation, in which everything is done in preparation for the game and in order to be tactically aware."

Jones believes that there are many benefits of looking to other sports for inspiration.

"I watched Bayern train and had a really good meeting with the head coach and I really think we can improve greatly with adjustments in the way we train," he said. "He is the best soccer coach in the world and you always want to learn from the best.

"Rugby and soccer are very similar in that you always want to move the ball into space and Bayern Munich and his previous team Barcelona played the most fantastic passing game you have ever seen. The principles are exactly the same. The very best soccer teams vary their depth and formation in order to make the most of the space. So when you get the chance to learn from the best it's a fantastic opportunity."

Japan are in Pool B for the 2015 World Cup alongside Samoa, South Africa, Scotland and United States. The Cherry Blossoms have played in every World Cup but have not won a game at the competition since 1991. They will host the event for the first time in 2019.