Springbok assistant coaches Tony Brown and Jerry Flannery said that they had no plans to change the team’s identity, but were confident that they could make a difference as they injected fresh blood into the coaching set-up as the double Rugby World Cup champions targeted a challenging 2024 season.
The coaches had their first in-person coaches’ strategic session and player alignment camp in Cape Town last week and that bolstered their excitement as they embark on this new journey in their careers.
“I’ve always admired the way the Springboks played,” said Brown. “In fact, my favourite player was Henry Honiball. It’s a pleasure to watch them and an honour to be part of this group.”
Brown was adamant that the skills he will add from his experience of playing for the All Blacks and coaching in New Zealand and Japan would not go against the grain of the Springbok DNA.
“I believe 100% that I can make a difference to the Springboks’ attack,” he said. “If we can be as dominant on attack as in the other areas of our game, and that combined with the quality of players we have and their great commitment, I firmly believe if we get the coaching right, we can continue to be a dominant force.
“Obviously the Boks have their own identity, and their physicality is a huge part of the game. The team also has amazing athletes, with some of the best in the world. So, there are certainly things I can take from having played in New Zealand and having coached there and in Japan, but that said we’ll never change the DNA of the team. I’d simply like to add a few elements to the way we play the game.”
Brown said they would finetune their playing style in the next few weeks in the build-up to the team’s opening Test against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday 22 June, and that it was a process rather than an aspect they could develop at the first alignment camp.
“The big thing for us at this stage is to get more time with the players and to understand them better, and from there we’ll work out how we want to play going forward,” said the former All Black flyhalf.
Flannery was equally honoured to be a member of the Bok coaching team and said: “The team is so important for South Africa, and for them to represent such a diverse country and something bigger than just the game is special, and I cannot wait to add to that.”
The former Irish hooker was not overly daunted about filling the boots of former Springbok defence guru and head coach Jacques Nienaber, saying: “I worked with Jacques and Rassie (Erasmus – Springbok head coach) at Munster, and I learned a lot from them and about their work ethic, so I’d really like to contribute to how things are evolving and to build positively on what the team has achieved.
“I’m confident about the (defensive) structures Jacques put in place, and what’s particularly special about this team is the way everyone takes ownership. I can’t be Jacques, but I can be Jerry, and that’s what I’d like to bring to the team.”
The next two Springbok alignment camps will be hosted between 1 and 3 May, and 22 to 24 May respectively, with the venues set to be announced in due course.