‘It’s creative chaos’ – Tony Brown provides fascinating insight into life at the Springboks under ‘innovative’ Rassie Erasmus
Springboks attack coach Tony Brown and his boss, Rassie Erasmus.
Springboks attack guru Tony Brown has revealed how Rassie Erasmus pushes every coach to be creative and come up with new ideas.
South Africa’s head honcho is regarded as one of the game’s great thinkers and he hired the New Zealander in an attempt to improve their attack.
Brown joined the Boks set-up following their 2023 Rugby World Cup triumph, with Erasmus knowing that they needed to be more effective with ball in hand looking ahead to the 2027 global tournament.
The signs have been very promising with the Springboks still top of the World Rugby rankings despite being a team in transition.
‘An exciting coaching team’
“Rassie’s definitely an innovative guy, he’s always asking the coaches to come up with something new and something different,” Brown told The Breakdown.
“Whether it’s defensively, whether it’s kicking game-wise, set-piece-wise or attack-wise, he’s always asking the question, ‘would this work?’ I’m always up for anything as you know, so it’s quite an exciting coaching team to be a part of.”
That ‘excitement’ extends to the coaching box, according to Brown, with it a hive of activity during the games.
It is in stark contrast to the New Zealander’s laid back approach, but he is still enjoying the mayhem of the Springboks environment.
“Well, it’s creative chaos I would say, it’s pretty intense in there. If I could have a beer in there, I would have a beer because I’m pretty low key when it comes to the coaches box,” he said.
“If you’ve got too many people yelling, it just adds to the confusion, so I keep it pretty settled and low key.”
Difference in coaching the Springboks
South Africa is Brown’s second international job after he coached Japan, while he has also been a key part of the Highlanders set-up in New Zealand.
The 50-year-old was asked what the differences were between the respective nations and he quipped: “That Japan side, the set-piece was not quite as good!”
He then added: “You definitely get a bit better ball to attack off [with South Africa]. They are bigger humans, love the physical side of the game, whereas the Japanese side love the flair and love moving the ball, and New Zealand’s probably a little bit of both.
“It’s definitely different going into the Springboks camp and trying to coach them, but it’s been very enjoyable. I just try and coach them my way and try and get them playing the game I want to try and play.
“Try and use their strengths rather than trying to get them to do something they’re not comfortable with.”
READ MORE: Springboks handed end-of-year boost as Rassie Erasmus finds way around World Rugby policy
