Springbok assistant coach spends time with New Zealand team
Yesterday at 03:28 AM
Following on from last year’s end-of-year tour, the Springbok coaches have had some time off, but focus will soon shift to once again plotting and planning for the 2025 Test season.
The Springboks’ fixtures for the year have mostly been confirmed, which includes back-to-back Tests in New Zealand and expected blockbuster battles against the likes of France and Ireland at the end of 2025.
One of the Springboks’ assistant coach, New Zealander Tony Brown, has notably headed back home where he has spent some time with the Highlanders, the Kiwi club where he previously had two stints as head coach.
It should be noted, though, that the Otago Daily Times reports that he is just been spending a couple of weeks there “in an informal, observational capacity”.
The article adds: “Brown is at home in Dunedin for a spell before resuming his role as an assistant coach with the Springboks.”
Brown was widely credited for making a big impact since joining the Springboks after the 2023 World Cup, with the team’s attack showing clear signs of evolution and improvement last season.
REMINDER OF THE SPRINGBOKS’ EXPECTED TEST SCHEDULE IN 2025:
5 July: vs Italy, Venue TBC
12 July: vs Italy, TBC
19 July: vs Georgia, TBC
16 August: vs Australia, TBC
23 August: vs Australia, TBC
6 September: vs New Zealand, Auckland
13 September: vs New Zealand, Wellington
27 September: vs Argentina, TBC
4 October: vs Argentina, London
1 November: vs Wales, Cardiff
8 November: vs France, Paris
15 November: vs Italy, TBC
22 November: vs Ireland, Dublin
Meanwhile, former All Blacks scrumhalf Justin Marshall has suggested New Zealand are no longer "world leaders" when it comes to tactics or innovation.
Speaking to Martin Devlin on DSPN, Marshall said that All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson will be closely analysing the Six Nations.
“Tactically, I kept an eye on how much cross-kicking was used to get outside this blitz-style defence. Every team was doing it. Even Antoine [Dupont] put in a cross-kick for a try.
"We are now not world leaders in being able to tactically outclass everybody," he said. "We've got to think, 'if they're doing that, how can we use it as a real weapon?
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