The Springboks can’t do things the same way they did in the previous two World Cup cycles and expect to be on the winning side again in a few years in Australia.
That’s why, as coach Rassie Erasmus began his second tenure this past week, the Springboks brought in Tony Brown and Jerry Flannery to shake things up.
Brown and Flannery replaced former head coach Jacques Nienaber and Felix Jones, who departed for opportunities for coaching in England and Ireland, respectively. Erasmus anticipates that the two foreign coaches will bring something unique to the Boks as they get ready to defend their crown at the Rugby World Cup in 2027.
Erasmus is excited for their baptism of fire later this year when the Springboks play Wales, Ireland, and Portugal to open their 2024 international season, but a lot of water still needs to run into the sea before then. There are two home Test matches against the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship later in the year.
“Over the next four years (ahead of the World Cup), we pretty much have a clean slate to work with. Well, we are already in the first year,” Erasmus said yesterday.
“In our (first) session with the coaches (last week), we decided that three things will probably make us stop winning – the lack of leadership, the lack of creativity, or an abundance of arrogance.
“We can’t do things exactly the same way. Not that I am saying that Jacques and Felix would’ve done the same thing but we all strive to get that perfect game between attack and defence.
“The coaches slotted in really nicely, we understand our systems, and, looking forward things can only get better.”
Apart from the introduction of Brown and Flannery, the Bok coaching team also gained Jaco Peyper as Paddy Sullivan works as a full-time performance analyzer, Sebastian Prim as a sports scientist, and national laws advisor. Sullivan has prior experience with the group.
All of this is done to maintain the dream of the Springboks becoming the first country to win three consecutive Webb Ellis Cups and to establish them as a formidable force.
Flannery has the biggest shoes to fill in keeping the Springbok defense as strong as it was under Nienaber, while Brown’s job will be to further unleash the offensive potential of the Boks.
“We concluded that we must get better, and for that, we have to change some things. Not just for the sake of change, but to get better.
“Tony – we would’ve loved to keep Felix because of the work ethic he brings – has the same work ethic, but he looks different at the attack. Tony is creative and has doable plans, it’s not pie-in-the-sky ones. Real rugby solutions to things.
“Jerry has exactly the same work ethic as Jacques and Felix have. From a defence side, analysis and watching hours of footage of collisions is a big part of your job.
“The things we did the last couple of days were really exciting. And if we get it right, we can improve.”
