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Tony Brown's rejection of All Blacks role solidifies future with Highlanders
By Online Editors
The All Blacks' loss of Tony Brown as a potential coaching candidate has become the Highlanders' gain.
The Japan assistant coach was considered one of a few frontrunners who were in contention to replace Steve Hansen as All Blacks head coach following New Zealand's World Cup semi-final exit, alongside the likes of long-term coaching partner Jamie Joseph, Ian Foster, Scott Robertson, Dave Rennie and Warren Gatland.
His decision to join Joseph in re-committing himself to the Brave Blossoms through to the 2023 World Cup in France following their maiden appearance in the tournament's quarter-finals last month, though, has ruled the pair out of the running to become Hansen's successor, which is good news for the Highlanders.
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The Dunedin-based Super Rugby franchise signed Brown as an assistant coach to Aaron Mauger on a three-year deal in May, but murmurings of the 44-year-old's potential involvement with the All Blacks sparked concerns that that could have confined his agreement with the Highlanders to just one season.
However, his contract extension with Japan means he is fully available to stay with the Highlanders - the club of which he played for 91 times over 10 seasons and coached in various roles between 2014 and 2017 - through until 2022.
"It is a massive coup for us. Everybody wants him - the All Blacks wanted him and now we have got him for the next three years," Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark told the Otago Daily Times.
"It's incredibly exciting for our fans."
Clark said the acquisition of Brown, who played in 18 tests for the All Blacks as a first-five between 1999 and 2001, would be a significant boost for the side's young players given his renowned ability as an attack coach.
It is in that role where Brown will be utilised during his second coaching stint with the franchise, while he will also be in charge of the team's game plan.
His dual roles with Japan and the Highlanders will make his coaching schedule a challenging one over the next three years, but Clark said it would be manageable thanks to the contrasting international rugby and Super Rugby calendars.
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I like to see the Crusaders lose as much as the next non-Crusaders fan, but the fact that most of their best players have not been available this year is being hand waved away like it shouldn’t effect them. It’s no coincidence that their first dominant performance came when they had more of their best players back. This is not rocket science. If they can stay fit their team at the business end of the season will include Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Quentin Strange, Ethan Blackadder and Cullen Grace in the forwards - most of whom have barely, or not played this year. That is an outstanding pack that have not played together this season. McLeod, Havili, Aumua, Reece, and Halfpenny will be a very different prospect behind their first choice pack as well. Having said all that Penney’s record is scratchy at best, but given the players that have left and their injury list I’m reserving judgement. Penney’s appointment, a bit like Foz, has a similar stench of the incumbent having too much say in his replacement. They are lacking a truly high quality and experienced 10 which will make it hard for them to go the whole way IMO, but the list of teams who would want to play them in the finals will be very short.
Go to commentsWhere’s this people's champion come from? Irish people yes….other people? Their arrogance has become breathtaking. Not tested? Oh dear.
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