Former All Blacks flyhalf Tony Brown says he aims to make the Springbok attack the most dominant in Test rugby, while naming an ex-Bok playmaker as his favourite player.

Brown has linked up with the Springboks as preparations began for the 2024 Test season, with the New Zealander stepping into the role previously held by Felix Jones.

A renowned innovator, Brown has won a Super Rugby title as a coach at the Highlanders and was a key part of Japan’s charge towards the playoffs at the 2019 World Cup.

As a player, he got an inside experience of South Africa by playing under Rassie Erasmus at the Stormers, while he also had a stint in Durban at the Sharks.

“It’s just a massive privilege to be sitting here,” the ex-Japan assistant coach said. “The Springboks have a massively proud history, and for me to come in and be a part of that and add to that is a huge honour.

“The way that the Springboks play the game is always admired around the world, and I’ve always been a big admirer of the way that the South African teams play, especially the Springboks.

“My favourite player was Henry Honiball, and I tried to play the game that way as well.

“What the Springboks have done over the last two World Cups is massively impressive; the way they’re able to win big games of rugby and win the key moments in games has been a pleasure to watch. For me it’s just exciting to be part of it going forward.

“With the quality of player and their commitment to the Springbok jersey, if we get our coaching right, I think the Springboks can be a real dominant force going forward.”

Brown was linked to the All Blacks job and courted by both Ian Foster and Scott Robertson to become the team’s attack coach.

However, he chose to stay loyal to Jamie Joseph, who has left Japan to return to New Zealand.

Brown revealed that when he received the offer to coach the Springboks from Rassie Erasmus, he wasted little time in accepting.

“One day, I might coach the All Blacks,” Brown said. “But I just want to be part of this coaching set-up [and] be part of the Springboks over the next four years.

“As soon as Rassie rung me, I said yes. I’ve got so much respect for what Rassie’s done with South Africa, I’m just excited to come in and be part of it. [To] watch him operate, learn from him, learn from all the other coaches.

“When I got asked to coach the All Blacks, what is it? Five years ago now? It just didn’t feel right,” he added. “I’ve obviously had a really good relationship with Jamie Joseph. If he had got the All Blacks coaching job, one hundred percent, I would have been in with him.

“But it just didn’t feel right to coach with the other guys that were going for that job, so Jamie and I went back to Japan. Now he’s not coaching anymore.”

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

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