BOKS’ ERASMUS SQUASHES TALK OF BROWN JOINING ALL BLACKS

SPRINGBOK coach Rassie Erasmus has emphatically squashed speculation that his attack coach, Tony Brown, could be heading home to New Zealand for a possible role in the new All Black coaching staff.

Erasmus posted an AI-generated meme on social media in which Brown said: “I’m not leaving.”

Erasmus added comforting words for Bok fans: “Today is a great day! Sleep lekker.”

It is an indication of just how good Brown is at his job that there was concern that he might leave the Boks after New Zealand Rugby (NZR) last Thursday dropped the bombshell that Scott Robertson had been fired from his position as head coach.

NZR chairperson David Kirk stated that the governing body would immediately start the process of searching for a new head coach for the All Blacks.

The early favourite for the job is former All Back Jamie Joseph. He and Brown go back a long way – they played together at Otago in the 1990s, and also on a few occasions at the All Blacks, and have a long history of coaching together. They have been a combination with Japan, the Sunwolves and Highlanders, where they won a Super Rugby title in 2015.

When the news broke that Robertson was gone midway through is four-year contract, rugby commentators quickly joined the dots regarding Brown and Joseph. The speculation was that Brown had an out clause in his Bok contract to cover an offer from New Zealand, the land of his birth.

Erasmus has clearly had a chat with Brown and received an assurance that he is committed to the Boks.

Late last year, Erasmus negotiated contract extensions with SA Rugby for the Bok coach staff, with the group going all the way through to the 2031 World Cup in the United States.