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Tony Brown now open to coaching All Blacks after turning down 2019 offer

Tony Brown, attack coach of the Springboks. Photo by RODGER BOSCH/AFP via Getty Images

When Sir Steve Hansen stepped down as All Blacks head coach after claiming third place at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, there were a number of candidates for the job, but one who turned down a role was new Springboks assistant Tony Brown.

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Brown, the former Highlanders head coach and Japan assistant, spoke to media following the Springboks’ alignment camp and reflected on his 2019 decision to return to Japan with long-time coaching comrade Jamie Joseph when an All Blacks gig was on the table.

The defending World Champions’ new attack coach also spoke of his long-standing admiration for the Springboks.

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“When I got asked to coach the All Blacks five years ago, for me, it just didn’t feel right,” he said. “I obviously had a really good relationship with Jamie Joseph and if he had got the All Black coaching job, then 100 per cent I would have been in with him.

“It just didn’t feel right for me to coach with the other guys going for that job, so Jamie and I went back to Japan to coach Japan.

“Now he’s not coaching any more and as soon as Rassie rang me, I said yes. I’ve got so much respect for what Rassie’s done with South Africa, I’m just excited to be part of it, watch him operate, learn him and all the other coaches.

“One day, maybe I might coach the All Blacks – I don’t know. I just want to be part of this coaching set-up and the Springboks over the next four years.”

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Brown played in South Africa under Rassie Erasmus with the Stormers in 2008, a point in which the two began their relationship and appreciation for each other’s mind for the game.

Both men’s coaching careers have since flourished and Brown comes into the Springbok environment as Erasmus looks to introduce diverse perspectives for the next era of South African rugby, ultimately chasing a three-peat of World Cup wins.

“Springboks have got a massively proud history, and for me to come in and try to be part of that and add to that is a huge honour,” added Brown. “The way the Springboks play is always admired around the world.

“I’ve always been a big admirer of the way South African teams play, especially the Springboks. My favourite player was [former Springboks first-five] Henry Honibull and I probably tried to play the game that way as well.

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“What the Springboks have done over the past two World Cups is massively impressive. The way they are able win big games and key moments in those games has been a pleasure to watch, and for me, it’s just exciting to be part of that.”

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7 Comments
p
paul 448 days ago

Be good to see SA make better use of their backs outside no.10. Got the talent. Just need the desire. Someone make rugby exciting again please. Be done with this mauls and penalty kicks boredom.

C
CR 448 days ago

Have a feeling that our best backline play is about to be unlocked. Great coach , respect for thinking out of the box by both Rassie and Tony in this professional era.

R
Rugby 448 days ago

Henry Honiball was an excellent flyhalf.

Good luck Brownie, am interested in what you would bring.

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RedWarriors 1 hour ago
Rassie Erasmus wades into heated debate over Jaden Hendrikse antics

Irish media accurately covered the Taoiseach’s visits to the EU president to reach agreement on ‘not returning to the borders of the past’. The Brexidiots had not even considered this nor had they considered any part of what Brexit might look at.

Morons like Nigel Farage were screaming ‘Traitors’ demanding that article 50 would be triggered. Once it was triggered a two year count down was started to a point where the UK could have been thrown into the World Market only under WTO rules. All the EU had to do was wait and Brexit would eat up its opposition.


Brexidiots talked tough and lied that the EU had more than the UK to lose. But it was all shallow lies ofcourse. All the EU had to do was wait, the UK had put the gun to its own head which would go off at a certain known point in time. The EU had won the negotiation before it had even started.

So we had extensions, more UK tough talking, capitulations, changes of Government and PMs everything you’d expect from a disfunctional state. Farage and Tice who claimed before the vote that ‘No-one is talking about leaving the Customs Union or Single market’ were now screaming about traitors unless the hardest Brexit was not enforced. May, Johnson, Davis, Rabb, Frost etc etc all devoured not by traitorous insiders but by the ridiculousness of their own project.


That is why all Ireland had to do was add the border as a pre requisite. Even Unionists concurred that the EU put a lot more effort into fixing the issues on the ground than the UK. Proving once again how completely unfit you are to Govern. The man who thinks Ireland are the ‘parasites of the world’ gives his opinion on Ireland? Do F**k off f@sc1st Tommie!


But men like Farage and those he represents cashed in big: the grifter made a killing for his cronies before the voting had even stopped at the expense of ordinary people.

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