The MAJOR impact Scott Robertson’s All Blacks exit could have on Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks
-All Blacks coach Scott Robertson with Rassie Erasmus and an inset of Tony Brown
Scott Robertson’s departure from the All Blacks could have huge ramifications for the Springboks and Rassie Erasmus.
New Zealand Rugby announced on Thursday that Robertson had been relieved from his duties with immediate effect after an extensive review of the 2025 season.
The search for his successor as the All Blacks’ head coach now begins, and if frontrunner Jamie Joseph gets the gig, it could result in South Africa losing assistant coach Tony Brown.
Tony Brown’s future
The former All Blacks‘ fly-half has played a pivotal role in the Springboks‘ evolution since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with the side scoring more tries and points in 2025 than ever before.
His impact has been so significant that head coach Erasmus is eager to lock in his services through to the 2031 Rugby World Cup in Australia after Brown initially signed on through to the tournament four years prior in Australia.
SA Rugby announced in December last year that Erasmus had extended his contract until then, with reports suggesting that talks had stalled because the head coach wanted his assistants’ futures to be secured too.
“An announcement on the contract negotiations with other members of the Springbok coaching team will be made in due course,” a statement from the union confirmed.
With no official made as of yet, the future of Brown remains up in the air and New Zealand Rugby could move to prize the attack guru away from South Africa.
Brown twice turned down the advances of the All Blacks, first when Ian Foster was named as Sir Steve Hansen’s successor in 2020 and then again when Robertson took charge of the team.
The reasoning for his rejection was that he pledged his loyalty to his long-time mate, Joseph. The pair have a long history of working together with the Highlanders, Sunwolves and Japan, where Brown served as Joseph’s successor.
It’s unlikely that Brown would be considered as a candidate to be the next All Blacks head coach, but if Joseph were to get the job, he would almost certainly pick up the phone and call his buddy.
‘Gutted’ Scott Robertson’s parting words after All Blacks’ dismissal
Jamie Joseph’s connection
The attack coach addressed his snubbing of the All Blacks last year and how he ended up working with the Springboks instead.
“When I got asked to coach the All Blacks five years ago, for me, it just didn’t feel right,” Brown said.
“I obviously had a really good relationship with Jamie Joseph, and if he had got the All Blacks 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.”
He added: “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.”
While New Zealand Rugby Chairman David Kirk confirmed that only Robertson has been dismissed following the review, he stated that the new head coach would not have to keep the current assistant coaches.
“A new head coach will likely be able to appoint their own staff, their own assistants,” he said.
If NZ Rugby do hand Joseph the reins, the first person he will be keen to add to his staff will be Brown. The one stumbling block for the union would be convincing SA Rugby to release him from his contract, which only expires after the tournament in Australia.
The All Blacks have attempted to acquire Brown’s services previously, and best believe that they will attempt to do so again.
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