Springboks attack coach Tony Brown says he didn’t hesitate to join Rassie Erasmus’ coaching group when the opportunity presented itself.
Brown revealed to former Sharks coach John Plumtree in part two of a wide-ranging interview on the Plumtree Uncut podcast that after the 2023 World Cup, Erasmus had already been in touch, but by Christmas there was no contract.
“I didn’t hear from him for a couple of months,” Brown said. “So I thought, ‘Oh, maybe that opportunity’s gone.’”
Argentina’s Felipe Contepomi also wanted him, but Brown kept waiting on Erasmus.
“He said, ‘Right, we’re keen to sign you if you want to sign.’ And I just said, ‘Yes, I’ll sign straight away.’ And I’m glad I did. Amazing team to coach. Obviously great country to spend a lot of time in, and it’s a rugby country which, when I was a player and when you toured here, it was special. Now I’m coaching here, it’s special as well.”
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He believes the Boks have the recipe for success right and the talent conveyor belt is producing quality young players.
“South Africa is always the toughest place to play rugby and win,” he said. “I think now with how Rassie’s developed this rugby team, that’s exceptional, and then all the young guys coming through in the 20s, and how South Africa have got that right. They’re winning all those [under] 20s tournaments now, so they’ve got everything right in South Africa at the moment.”
As a former All Black, he says his approach is simple: “If I go into a team, I just commit 100%, because if I don’t, the players will feel that.”
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That commitment comes at a cost. His family live in Dunedin, where one daughter is at university and the other at high school.
“It’s obviously always a little bit difficult when you’re always away from your family,” he said. “They come to a few games and come to the World Cups but the majority of the time they stay in Dunedin and go to school and just get on with their lives. I come and go a bit, but we make it work.”
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
The post Tony: Boks have ‘got everything right’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Springboks attack coach Tony Brown says he didn’t hesitate to join Rassie Erasmus’ coaching group when the opportunity presented itself.
The post Tony: Boks have ‘got everything right’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
