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Former Test centres on why Tony Brown will fit in well with the Springboks
Following the departure of a number of coaching staff from the Springbok setup after winning the world cup in France, there has been plenty of speculation about who will take them forward to Australia in 2027.
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The panel on the latest episode of Boks Office have chimed in, discussing who they think will be involved and what they will bring to the role.
Earlier this week it was revealed that former All Black and Highlanders legend Tony Brown will likely be joining Rassie Erasmus as an assistant coach, with it reportedly already a ‘done deal’.
Brown, assistant coach of Japan at two World Cups, will join as an attack coach as Erasmus rebuilds after the departures of Jacques Nienaber to Leinster and Felix Jones to England.
“What an acquisition that would be. He was amazing,” said former England, Saracens and Natal Sharks back, Brad Barritt.
“The guy to learn from… To date probably the best pass I’ve ever seen. It was just on a sixpence every single time. That’s an amazing coup.”
Former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers, who played alongside Brown when he was at the Stormers in 2008, believes that he brings a significant amount of knowledge and experience to the table.
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“If the Boks get that right… If you think, Tony Brown started in the mid-nineties playing Super Rugby and international rugby, went all the way though and finished at about 2010,” says de Villiers.
“Then he went straight into coaching, coached in Japan, coached the Highlanders, coached throughout the world… So he’s got 35 years of IP and experience at the highest level of rugby that he can fall back on and now bring that to the Boks.”
Any potential concerns about how, as a New Zealander, Brown would fit into the South African setup were quickly quashed.
“He played for the Stormers in 2008. Can you remember who the coach was? Rassie Erasmus.”
Former Ireland and Munster hooker Jerry Flannery has also been linked with the Springboks post Rugby World Cup 2023. He worked as scrum coach under Erasmus at Munster before going to Harlequins.
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The Boks Office guys also discuss, amongst other things, which rugby players would make good MMA fighters, how Finn Russell is more important than Gregor Townsend, mental health and the new Whistleblowers documentary, and how Ireland will cope without Johnny Sexton in this year’s Six Nations.
You can watch the full episode of Boks Office for free now on Rugbypass.TV
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments