Tony Brown wants to take Handre Pollard back to his roots and get the two-time World Cup winning flyhalf into a more attacking mindset in the series-opener against Ireland on Saturday.

The Springboks’ new attack coach was speaking during a press conference in Pretoria on Monday, ahead of the first of two Test matches against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld.

Brown, a former All Blacks flyhalf, was asked to reflect on his work with the Bok playmakers to date, with Pollard facing stiff competition to keep the jersey from Manie Libbok and recent debutants Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Jordan Hendrikse.

“It’s been really good,” Brown said. “It’s been a little bit different for them. We are just trying some new things and getting them to play the game a little bit differently.

“Handre is a little bit older and he’s been around for a long, long time. I’m hoping that with a bit of time, we can build a good partnership and get him playing some exciting rugby.

“When I was watching him as an U20 player, he was probably the most dominant flyhalf on the gainline in the world as a 20-year-old. If we can get him back to playing that sort of footy, that would be amazing.

“Guys like Manie, Sacha and Jordan, they play the game a little bit differently. Understanding them as players and them understanding me as a coach will develop over time.

“The best thing from my view is they’ve all got amazing skill sets. They can all push themselves and challenge themselves to be better players. It’s exciting for me. Hopefully it’s exciting for them to get coached a different way.”

Ireland will have a new general from the last time they faced the Springboks at the 2023 World Cup pool stages.

Johnny Sexton retired after the tournament and Munster flyhalf Jack Crowley has taken up the mantle as Ireland’s new No 10.

“With Johnny Sexton, who was probably Ireland’s greatest player, retiring after the World Cup, it’s left a massive hole for Ireland,” Brown said.

“I think the young Crowley has done a fantastic job. He’s been really dominant in the Six Nations and looks like a fantastic player for Munster.

“He doesn’t seem nervous on the field at all. I think he’s fitted in pretty nicely.”

Photo: Tom Jenkins/Getty Images

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