RASSIE BREAKS SILENCE ON RAZORED COACH

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has finally shared his thoughts on the dramatic sacking of All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, while also putting to rest swirling speculation about the future of his own attack coach, Tony Brown.

When New Zealand Rugby surprisingly ended Robertson’s tenure earlier this year, it sent shockwaves right across the rugby world. Erasmus admitted the decision took him aback and that the whole process still isn’t completely clear.

He noted that being at the helm of the All Blacks is an extraordinarily tough gig with immense pressure and expectations that few outsiders can truly understand.

In responding to reports that “player power” or personality clashes might have contributed to the dismissal, Erasmus struck an honest tone.

He said he’s not usually one to poke around in other teams’ cultures. Still, he suggested that letting players dictate what they want without appreciating the daily grind coaches put in can be, in some cases, “a dangerous thing.”

At the same time, Erasmus used the platform to clarify the ongoing situation around Tony Brown, his influential Springbok attack coach.

Despite persistent rumours linking Brown to a possible All Blacks coaching role following Robertson’s exit, Erasmus confirmed that Brown absolutely wants to coach the All Blacks one day, but he’s fully committed to the Springbok cause until at least the end of his contract in 2027.

Erasmus said that before Brown joined the Springbok setup, he’d simply asked him if coaching the All Blacks was something he wanted, and Brown was honest in admitting it was an ambition.

But crucially, he reaffirmed Brown’s dedication to South Africa’s long-term plans and underlined that he won’t be leaving early.

Image credit: Planet Rugby