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 the Springboks brought in Tony Brown (attack), and Jerry Flannery (defence) to change things up as the second era of head coach Rassie Erasmus started this past week.
Brown and Flannery replaced former head coach Jacques Nienaber and Felix Jones, who departed for coaching opportunities in Ireland and England, respectively. Erasmus hopes the addition of two foreign coaches will add something different to the Boks as they prepare to defend their title at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
But plenty of water still needs to run into the sea before then, and that is why Erasmus is eager for their baptism of fire later this year when the Springboks face Wales, Ireland, and Portugal to open their 2024 international season. Later in the year, two home tests await against the All Blacks during the Rugby Championship.
“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 (after winning the World Cup). Not that I am saying that Jacques and Felix would’ve done the same thing. But we all strive to get that perfect balance 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 installments of Brown and Flannery, the Bok coaching also gained Jaco Peyper as national laws advisor, Sebastian Primm as sports scientist, and Paddy Sullivan as full-time Performance Analyst. Sullivan was with the team before.
This is all to keep that dream alive of becoming the first nation to win three Webb Ellis Cups on the trot, and to make the Springboks a force to be reckoned with.
Brown’s task will be to further unlock the attacking potential of the Boks, while Flannery will have the biggest boots to fill in keeping the defence of the Springboks as watertight as it was under Nienaber.
“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.”
Erasmus also confirmed double World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi is available to play international rugby and that he does not have a clause in his contract at Racing92 that will prevent him from donning the Green-and-Gold this year.
But, ideally, he would’ve loved to have the captain in South Africa.
A new captain could take charge in the Wales test as it falls outside World Rugby’s official international window, and it’s also not clear-cut that Kolisi will captain the entire Irish series in July.
The 32-year-old’s contribution to South African rugby, which stretches over 83 tests, has been outstanding, but it’s three years until the next World Cup, and there are no guarantees that he will be able to lead and play for the Boks then.
“I actually think he’s playing some of his best rugby and he looks really relaxed,” Erasmus said about Kolisi.
“I would always love to have a captain locally based. It would be great, it”s just a call, and the guy hops on a flight, and we can have a weekend together to plan and work out stuff.
“This is a unique situation. He will be considered (as captain), and I think he will play some test matches because he definitely wants to, and he’s playing well enough, so why would it stop us then?
“I will have to suss (feel) it out. If it (the captaincy) is doable because the guys know him so well, then maybe there is space for that.”
Springbok Management:
Rassie Erasmus: Head Coach
Charles Wessels: Team Manager
Mzwandile Stick: Assistant Coach
Daan Human: Assistant Coach
Deon Davids: Assistant Coach
Tony Brown: Assistant Coach
Jerry Flannery: Assistant Coach
Andy Edwards: Head of Athletic Performance
Sebastian Prim: Sport Scientist
Paddy Sullivan: Performance Analyst
Lindsay Weyer: Technical Analyst
Jaco Peyper: Laws and Discipline Advisor
Dr Jerome Lehlogonolo Mampane: Team Doctor
Dr Aneurin Robyn: Physiotherapist
Rene Naylor: Physiotherapist
JJ Fredericks: Logistics Manager
Zintsika Tashe: Operations Manager
Zeena Isaacs van Tonder: Media Manager