Ex-All Blacks weigh in on New Zealand Rugby's big Jamie Joseph question

Jamie Joseph’s name is seemingly on the tip of every rugby fan’s tongue after the role of All Blacks head coach suddenly became available on Thursday afternoon, but who could accompany him in a new-look All Blacks coaching group has become the next great discussion point.

Tony Brown, Joseph’s long-time running mate in Japan’s national setup, is currently running the firing-on-all-cylinders Springboks attack, having signed a four-year deal with SA Rugby two years ago.

The former All Black game-driver was understood to be part of Jamie Joseph’s bid for the All Blacks’ top job in 2023, when the pair were ultimately beaten to the post by Scott Robertson.

Now, with Robertson officially out of the picture, Joseph is expected to take another stab at the job, interviewing with New Zealand Rugby.

“They’re going to talk about process, they’re going to talk about the fact that they want to do things the right way, but it would be hard to believe that he’s not the guy that they’ve targeted to take over,” former All Black Jeff Wilson said on an emergency episode of The Breakdown on Thursday.

“And, they’ll be hoping they can lure Tony Brown back from the Springboks. I would be surprised if Tony hadn’t left a door open.

“He was actually offering to help with the Highlanders in the early part of this season, and South African Rugby were happy for him to do that. It didn’t quite work out for other reasons.

“But in the back of his mind, I think he’s looked at this and thought at some point he’d love to coach the All Blacks with Jamie Joseph.

“Now this may have come a couple of years sooner than he imagined, but I’d be surprised if he hasn’t got an out. I don’t know that, I don’t know.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

4

Draws

0

Wins

1

Average Points scored

24

17

First try wins

40%

Home team wins

60%

Wilson’s co-panellist and fellow ex-All Black, Justin Marshall, was shaking his head as Wilson speculated over Brown’s availability.

“I agree with Jeff, that would probably be his (Brown’s) ultimate ambition and goal, to coach the All Blacks,” he responded. “But I would imagine they (the Springboks) have got him in concrete over there, especially with the All Blacks coming. They would have locked him in.

“From all accounts, and having spoken to him, he’s in a great environment, and he loves what he’s doing.

“It would take something really significant to move him on, and the All Blacks are significant. So there could be a possibility, and possibly there is a door to be opened.

“I agree that Jamie’s the most likely candidate, having gone away with that All Blacks XV in November. There’s a stepping stone there, and by all accounts, that was a really harmonious trip; really enjoyed by the players, very successful on and off the field.”

With the change in the All Blacks camp coinciding with movement in the upper ranks of New Zealand Rugby, there is a clear sentiment of change in rugby’s most famous stronghold.

But the punditry show’s third All Black great, Mils Muliaina, warned of what he saw as the dangers of overcorrection and leaning too much into a player-dictated leadership model.

“I’m not keen on that reset,” he explained. “There’s no way we’re resetting right now. I think we’re heading in a new direction, and that’s come about from the board making a courageous decision and moving forward.

“Yes, we’re missing a CEO and head of high performance, but the priority right now is to put Jamie Joseph in there. He is the man to go to.

“We shouldn’t be stuffing around, saying let’s open things up. I know they’ve got to go through a process; Jamie Joseph’s your man. He’s gone through all of this.

“Jeff spoke about it before, about the world that we’re in, with players getting a lot more say, perhaps a lot more than the three of us would have had in our day. There’s go tot be a balance there. I don’t like it heading towards the players.

“Here’s your man, Jamie Joseph. He went through that himself in Wellington when he came in hard and went hard on his players. He had All Blacks who didn’t like the way things were happening, and he changed it.

“He has experience. He went across to Japan and coached there. He’s come back, and he didn’t just get an All Blacks job handed to him; he’s worked his butt off to get there.

“I’d be very surprised if South Africa were that stupid to let Tony Brown go. Why would you let him go? There’s no way. I’m hoping that he does have a clause in there.

“Jamie Joseph, Tony Brown, but also Dave Rennie. Here’s a guy who’s gone through all of that experience with the Wallabies and been axed. After what he’s done with the Chiefs, I think he’d make a great assistant coach with that international experience, but also that old-school way.

“The plays that he comes up with… I like that model. I’d love to see Brownie back, but I don’t think South Africa are that silly to let him go.”