On the Boks Unpacked podcast, Schalk Burger, Jean de Villiers and Hanyani Shimange gave their collective verdict on Tony Brown's post-2027 move to the All Blacks — and the consensus is broadly positive. Burger's read is the most analytical: Brown's accumulated coaching passport (Highlanders, Japan, Sharks, Stormers, four years under Erasmus) makes him exactly the kind of operator NZ Rugby wants to repatriate, and the early public confirmation is a feature, not a bug — it allows Erasmus to run an orderly succession process, potentially mirroring the Flannery model from the 2023 World Cup cycle where an incoming coach shadowed the incumbent before taking over. De Villiers dismisses concerns that Brown will go cold on sharing information before he leaves, arguing transparency is the smarter play for all parties. Burger also makes the human point that Brown has been commuting between hemispheres for years — the family calculus was always going to tip eventually.
Burger, De Villiers and Shimange back 'well handled' Brown departure
Burger, De Villiers and Shimange back the transparency of Brown's early announcement, with Burger flagging the succession opportunity it creates and De Villiers dismissing concerns about a coaching information freeze before Brown departs.
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Erasmus welcomes clarity on Tony Brown's post-2027 departure: 'We've made the mistake in the past'
Tony Brown will join the All Blacks coaching staff in 2028 after his Springbok contract expires at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with Rassie Erasmus welcoming the early clarity as SA Rugby looks to avoid the contractual uncertainty that complicated preparations for France 2023.
Tony Brown to join All Blacks backroom staff in 2028 after Springbok contract ends
NZR have confirmed Tony Brown will join the All Blacks' backroom staff in 2028 on a two-year contract, with the Springboks attack coach set to depart after the 2027 Rugby World Cup. It is the third time NZR have pursued Brown, having previously been rejected during the Foster and Robertson eras.
All Blacks' loosehead crisis hands Springboks a ready-made weapon in Greatest Rivalry Series
Jeff Wilson has publicly identified loosehead prop as the All Blacks' most dangerous weakness ahead of four consecutive Tests against the Springboks — with Williams likely out, Tu'ungafasi's future uncertain, and the remaining options short on caps and experience. Set against the depth Erasmus has built across the prop positions, this piece maps out why scrum time could be where the Greatest Rivalry Series is decided.
Stephen Donald: Robertson copied the Boks — Rennie must go back to All Blacks DNA
Stephen Donald backs Hansen's anti-copycat argument, saying Robertson erred by chasing the Springbok blueprint rather than New Zealand's tempo-based strengths — and expects Rennie to correct that course ahead of a blockbuster four-Test series in South Africa.
Mulder's '95 Warning: Don't Sleep on the All Blacks
1995 World Cup winner Japie Mulder warns against writing off the All Blacks ahead of the four-Test series, drawing on South Africa's own underdog story to argue the gap in rankings doesn't guarantee a comfortable series win.