Former All Blacks fly-half and Highlanders head coach Tony Brown could be unveiled as part of the Springboks’ new-look coaching staff, according to a report in the South African media.
Reputable Afrikaans newspaper Rapport has reported that Brown is set to be named as the Boks’ new attack coach as early as this week.
Impressive playing and coaching career
The 49-year-old has had a distinguished coaching career. He played in 18 Tests for New Zealand from 1999 to 2001 and represented the Highlanders in Super Rugby from 1996 to 2011.
He had a lengthy playing and coaching career in Japan before taking on the role of head coach for the Highlanders in 2021 and 2022. He had previously served as the team’s assistant coach for a number of seasons in Dunedin.
Brown joined Sanyo Wild Knights’ backroom staff in 2011 after serving as a player for the Japanese side from 2005 to 2011. He also coached as an assistant with Otago and the Highlanders from 2012 to 2016.
Brown was also part of the Sunwolves’ coaching staff in Super Rugby and worked under Japan head coach Jamie Joseph at the Rugby World Cup in France last year.
However, Joseph, who is also a former Highlanders head coach, returned to them to take up a role as their head of rugby after the World Cup, with former Wallabies and England boss Eddie Jones taking charge of the Brave Blossoms.
Brown has always said that he prefers to remain involved at international level, and it appears that the Springboks have attained his services.
Though he had the option to join Joseph at the Highlanders, he chose to stay put in order to take a coaching position with a Test team. It seems that SA Rugby director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, made an attempt to sign Brown following the World Cup.
After Jacques Nienaber left the Springboks to join the Irish province Leinster, Erasmus returned to his previous position as head coach of the team. Felix Jones, a former full-back for Ireland, also departed the Boks to accept a job with England.
As a result, there were two openings in the Boks’ backroom staff. Former Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery is expected to take over as the current world champions’ defense coach, according to Rapport.
Playing stints in South Africa
South Africa is no stranger to Brown. Before retiring and beginning his coaching career, he played Super Rugby for both the Sharks and the Stormers.
Since then, he has developed a reputation as an inventive attack coach, and if he is added to the Springboks coaching team, he might add something new to their attacking play.
The two Test matches between the All Blacks and the Springboks are scheduled to take place in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
