One of the last things axed All Blacks coach Scott Robertson did before he was sacked was launch a bid to add Tony Brown to his coaching staff.
Brown, the Springbok’s attack coach, revealed the approach during an interview with Newstalk ZB today, adding that Robertson’s sacking was “bizarre”.
It comes after Brown essentially ruled himself out of possibly joining coaching candidate Jamie Joseph at the All Blacks earlier this week, citing the fact he had no exit clause in his Springboks contract.
Brown says if he was not committed to his role with the world champions through 2027, he would certainly be eager to be involved with coaching the All Blacks, who last October announced assistant coach Jason Holland would finish up at the end of the 2025 season.
He says 100 percent he would have, two years ago as well, and in the future, it’s definitely something he wants to do, but timing has not worked.
Brown says his commitment to South Africa was four years and he has always had the plan to honour that commitment.
He says it was definitely the Scott Robertson’s team versus Jamie Joseph’s team that the process that New Zealand Rugby set up.
Brown says with him being with Jamie, then Scott potentially did not want to take him as well.
He had quality coaches in Jason Holland and Leon MacDonald, Scott Hansen with him and Jason Ryan, so they had a strong coaching team.
Brown was also critical of New Zealand Rugby over the way they handled the departure of Robertson, who was sensationally sacked last week.
Source: stuff.co.nz
