Assistant coach Tony Brown believes the Springboks, under the stewardship of Rassie Erasmus, have the talent to experiment while being the dominant team in world rugby.
The former All Black has helped incorporate more width and unpredictability into the Boks’ gameplay since joining Erasmus’ backroom staff this season, contributing to their Rugby Championship triumph and potential end-of-year tour clean sweep.
As the world champions aim to reclaim the world No 1 ranking from Ireland, Brown’s influence continues to shape their evolving playing style while maintaining their characteristic physicality.
Speaking to The Breakdown, Brown highlighted the untapped potential within the squad. “Just the amount of talent that they have, probably untapped talent as well. Over the last two World Cups they’ve been a real physical side, relying on their defensive game and the ability to physically grind a team down.
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“Now that we want to try and get a bit more expansive with our attacking game, I’ve found that the talent is definitely there and the potential of where we can go could be huge.”
The assistant coach acknowledged the delicate balance between innovation and maintaining winning momentum. “Rassie has a four-year plan around getting ready for the World Cup, but like any nation, no one wants to lose Test matches. I don’t think we want to sacrifice any games, but we definitely want to try different things and different players.”
Brown praised Erasmus’ coaching approach, emphasising his connection with players. “He’s an exceptional coach. The players love the way that he coaches them. He’s so honest when he speaks to the players, when he gets the best out of them.
“All the best coaches in the world have the ability to get the potential out of a team. Rassie is no different, and the players love playing for him.”
Photo: @Springboks/Twitter
