Springbok attack coach Tony Brown says the world champions are building a more complete, all-round game under Rassie Erasmus.
Speaking on New Zealand rugby show The Breakdown, the former All Blacks playmaker said the Boks’ focus ahead of their end-of-year tour is on consistency, adaptability and collective improvement after an extensive year of rotation and experimentation.
“We’ve used 48 players I think this year, so we’ve blooded a lot of players,” Brown said. “Our goal is to go over there and win every game, play as well as we can and try and build on what we’ve done so far around our attack, defence and set piece – and basically just keep pushing our game forward.”
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Brown, who joined the Bok coaching staff at the completion of the 2023 World Cup, has now helped the team to back-to-back Rugby Championship titles. He admits that adapting to South African rugby’s unique DNA has been a refreshing challenge.
“Definitely different going into the Springbok camp and trying to coach them,” he said. “But it’s been very enjoyable and I just try and coach them my way and try and get them playing the game I want to try and play – and try and use their strengths rather than force them to do stuff they’re not comfortable with.”
The 50-year-old, renowned for his attacking creativity and tactical sharpness, emphasised that Test rugby success demands far more than flair with ball in hand.
“There are so many different things around how you win a game of Test rugby, and it can’t be just attack,” Brown explained. “You’ve got to get everything right on the day: you’ve got to get your set piece right, you’ve got to get your kicking game right; the contest in the air has become a massive thing. You’ve got to get everyone on the same page and attacking together, or defending together.”
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Brown’s fingerprints have been visible in the Springboks’ more expansive passages of play this season, especially in the big wins over the All Blacks in Wellington and Argentina in Durban.
The Boks will face Japan (at Wembley), France, Italy, Ireland and Wales on tour in November.
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
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Springbok attack coach Tony Brown says the world champions are building a more complete, all-round game under Rassie Erasmus.
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