IT’S THE SA WAY

FORMER All Blacks flyhalf and current Springbok assistant coach Tony Brown says he’s not trying to turn the Bokke into Kiwis. 

Instead, the 50-year-old attack coach says he is playing the South African players to their strengths.

Much has been made about the Springboks’ style of play since Brown, who also had a stint at No.10 as a Stormers player back in 2008, joined the coaching team last year. 

Mense have called his style “Tonyball” and have been vocal about the coach bringing in some Kiwi flair to the SA team. 

Not the case, according to Brown, who told the Coaching Culture with Ben Herring podcast: “It has definitely been an awesome experience [coaching at the Springboks so far]. 

“[Head coach] Rassie [Erasmus is] an amazing operator. 

“The players are so committed to making sure that South Africa is a good rugby nation, they are a pleasure to coach.” 

On his style, he added: “I’ve got a certain style of how I think the game should be played, I never went into the [South African] team and said you’ve got to play the game how I want to coach it. 

“I went in, [saying] ‘this is the way they are and how they play the game already and this is how I can make them a better attacking side’. 

“Instead of me trying to put my coaching philosophy on them, I am trying to help them improve the way they always do it. 

“It’s their way, I am not gonna make them play like NZ rugby players, I try and improve South Africa rugby the way they’ve been doing it for hundreds of years.” 

Brown and the Boks will be looking to do it their way against the Barbarians in the first match of the season at Cape Town Stadium next week.