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Jeff Wilson on the key quality Tony Brown could reintroduce to the All Blacks

Tony Brown. (Photo by Derek Morrison/Photosport)
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Following New Zealand Rugby’s appointment of Springboks attack coach Tony Brown as the All Blacks‘ assistant from 2028, Jeff Wilson has previewed what difference he may make to the environment.

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Brown will return to New Zealand after the conclusion of the upcoming 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, after spending three years under Rassie Erasmus in South Africa.

The assistant coach’s portfolio will depend on who the head coach is, as the current group, including Dave Rennie, Jason Ryan, Neil Barnes, Tana Umaga, and Mike Blair, is only contracted until next year’s tournament.

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Wilson, who played alongside Brown, explained on The Breakdown that his philosophy around the basics of the game will be important when he returns to the All Blacks.

“He always came up with ideas and I think the really important part about this for me, though, is that what Tony does, is he makes sure that you understand the fundamentals well, and you execute those well,” Wilson said.

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“He drives players to have those expectations. So, when they can execute, the skill set is there. He doesn’t go away from that first. He builds that foundation of the fact that you need to have the handing skills, the kicking skills, the vision for the game.

“What he does do is he motivates his players, and he gives them the freedom to play, and I think that’s the big ticket for me about him, I get the sense I can pull the trigger, that Brownie trusts me to go out and play my game.”

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The former All Black adds that this could be what the All Blacks have been missing of late, and that Brown will have a positive impact on the future generation of players.

“I think that’s something that I’d say a lot of New Zealanders would feel, that New Zealand rugby, for a time, may have lost, and maybe we’re trying to get back to that.

“Just nice to seal him up and get his pen to paper, and go, you know what, he’s in the future for our country.”

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Many fans and pundits have expressed concern about the timing of the announcement, but the current Sky Sport commentator doesn’t believe this will be a distraction for Rennie and his coaching staff.

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“Dave Rennie, who’s been part of the process as well, understands why New Zealand Rugby have clearly done this. I don’t disagree with it in any way, shape, or form.

“Look, Dave Rennie’s focused on the next 18 months, and his coaching team, there’ll be a new conversation after the Rugby World Cup about who’s going to be the All Black coach going forward, that could be based on results, it could be based on the trajectory of where the team is heading.

“But now they’ve got a piece of that puzzle they know that could just add to what they already have got. Now, how that looks, look, I don’t think this coaching team will be concerned about this at all.”

New Zealand Rugby’s CEO Steve Lancaster said that Brown made his intentions clear, which helped the organisation secure the 51-year-old for two years.

“Tony is a world-class coach who is highly regarded and consistently sought after by head coaches and teams around the world.

“We know Tony is available after the 2027 Rugby World Cup and he’s made it clear he would love to be part of the All Blacks. This decision is simple, it’s about ensuring the best coaches return to New Zealand.

“It’s for the All Blacks Head Coach to shape the structure and portfolios of their coaching team and we have every confidence that Tony is a high-quality addition when he joins in 2028.”

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RugCs 1 hr ago

So Rennie is only confirmed until the end of the RWC and we have a Scott Robertson scenario where a new coach is appointed while the incumbent is still in the chair. You have to admire the NZR for not learning from history.

S
Spew_81 53 mins ago

I assume that they are building the ‘Jamie Joseph as main coach’ option. Jamie Joseph only goes really well with a good Attack/Back coach. Some said he was uncomfortable doing the current All Blacks role without Brown?


Also, perhaps Rennie has said that he would include Brown in this coaching set up if Rennie is retained?


If Rennie has not given such assurances, then yes, it is a typically weird NZRU coaching choice/announcement.

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Olly 25 minutes ago
Is defence going out of fashion? 'The trick now is how quickly you stop the bleeding'

IMO, with all the physical changes to the players and the law changes for faster more ball minutes etc…The Def role has changed. All the usual stuff of the def system, line speed structure, communication, pressure etc etc are all critical. For me, game management has become def and the role of the modern def coach. Yes, it has always been important, but I feel it has switched from more attack focus to a def focus. It is very hard to stop teams from coming away with points when they get in range now and we are seeing more and more of just pick-and-goes over actual attack in this red zone. You can tackle your heart out, but the system will fail, and from what I have been seeing in SRP (with the new laws), teams seem to be holding on in def….then suddenly the opposition gets in the right area (mostly a run of penalties), and we have a run of points. Lots of points in bunches at critical points of games which make a tight contest look like a comfortable win.

Not sure if I am getting my point over clearly (at the end of a tiring day so rambling); I guess I just see the game is all about managing where the game is played, which has always been important…But I think it is def more important now then he has been in the past and a critical part of def coaching now. A def team stopping a team from getting points when in the reds zone is celebrated as a miracle now and a complete failure from the attacking team….



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