I like Tony Brown, he has handled himself well. He isn’t in front of the cameras all the time and his comments have been restrained and generally on point. We have heard nothing about how things are done in NZ.

That’s all good. What’s happened on the field is less satisfying. The Boks have always had long strike capability off turnover ball. The World Cup 2019 final saw two such tries….both from turnover ball/unstructured play. One by Kolbe, one by Mapimpi.

With Kolbe, Arendse and Mapimpi we have some of the world’s great finishers. Mapimpi is not the flavor of the day but he was effective on the open field kick last Sunday.

Point is, we have always had this capability.  Where we fall short of Australia and New Zealand and more recently Ireland and France, is in structured play.

When our forwards or backs get the ball in structured play with defenses fully in place we are still satisfied with a few toothless phases and the inevitable box kick.

There are a few bright spots. Williams is very dangerous on the snipe and Esterhozen shows signs of releasing the outside backs. But honestly it’s hardly a change. More disappointingly apart from Snyman who has been an offloading wizard for years….our forwards have no running game. Three passes among the forwards is still an absolute rarity.

In part this hinges on the players…..for example we don’t have an explosive forward runner like Savea. But our players instinctively look for contact rather than space.

So at this stage, after almost a full season, I’d have to give the Brown experiment a failing grade.

NOT REINVENTING THE WHEEL

Yet while there has been a perception of change in the air over the past few months, Brown emphasised during a media conference during the buildup to Saturday’s big game of the November tour against England at Twickenham that there has been no intention on his part to reinvent the wheel by moving the Boks too far away from their DNA.

“For me it has been a great six months from an attack point of view, with the players buying into what I am selling them and what I am trying to drive,” said Brown.

“I must emphasise that the team still has to attack the way the Boks play the game. The strengths are strong physicality and being on top of the gainline. I am not going to teach the Boks to attack like the All Blacks.

That is not my brief. I am here to develop an attacking game that suits the Boks and their strengths. “We are slowly starting to get that right, but this time next year I will expect us to have improved quite a bit more as we start the buildup to the 2027 World Cup,” he added.

Brown reiterated what he said earlier in the year about it being a great privilege and opportunity for him to work with the wealth of talent South African rugby has available to it.

“It has been a massive honour joining the Boks. They have won the last two World Cups, and they are the No 1 team in the world, so it has been a great opportunity for me as an attack coach. It is not so much that I have been given free licence but I am changing the way the players look at the game, how they use their X-factor around their physicality. “It has been six months.

Rassie asked me to see if we can make improvements on attack, to give the athletes the opportunity to be great on the rugby field. We are moving in the right direction and hopefully we will improve further on this tour and next year through to the World Cup.”

What Tony had to say on Supersport. A good indication why we don’t see actual change in structured Attack.

Early days, more like quarter term at the end of this year, rather than half term. 
Bok backs have clearly shown intent to pass more, but they need better execution. 

At least it appears from Mpower's article, that Brown knows that there has to be far more progress to develop a Springbok style of attack.

I have also noticed that the Boks used to have a linking number 8 that could get the backs involved after some phase play or offloads by the forwards. When Vermuelen was in his 20s, he was a faster runner and was able to link well with the backs. Skinstad and Joe Van Niekerk were very good at being linking players

I am almost certain that Cameron Hanekom can play that role. He has been doing that quite successfully at the Bulls.

I hope he gets a chance this weekend, at least of the bench. He is more talented than Van Staden.

Very good points on the need for a linking number 8 and Hanekom  unproven at test level, but seemingly with the right tools to play this role. A player like Bobby Skinstad could ignite this team.

Extending that line of thought, making the change we would all like to see can be measured in tactics, but inevitably it also has to be reflected in the emergence of a few players who exemplify the change.

Candidates could be Hanekom, Williams, Sacha, Snyman, Esterhuizen and Fassi. A real commitment to change and taking the risks to do that will have to include some of these players.

...linking 8 should be Roos...he's almost a center anyway...and strong...our running game is miles ahead  of where we were, but is not there yet...it takes time...we still winn, but we run and pass more than last year...tries has not increased yet, but the way we gain field position has gained in the running department .

Agreed Draad, Roos is the answer

No point in investing in Esterhuizen at this stage, he is 30

Add Willemse and Moodie to that list and for me Jurenzo Julius looks sexy for the future

When Hanekom does get his chance we will have to see how he does.

Wonder if Roos will get another chance? You can accommodate both of these players as loosies.

Roos did not completely use his opportunity at Bok Level, but maybe it was because of his shoulder injury that is now repaired.

I am putting my money on Hanekom. Saying that investing in Esterhuisen is to late, will then have the same implications for DDA.

Rassie has not chosen anyone else besides Moodie at 13…. Only DDA and Esterhuisen at 12….

Handsome is as handsome does….Roos has not set the world on fire at test level. He certainly looked the part when he emerged two years ago. But his match against Portugal this year was a bit disconcerting. He needs to take a decisive step up….and that’s certainly not a slam dunk.

Roos was doing a Sacha against Portugal playing with an injury as he was against England

These youngsters get limited opportunities so are desperate to play even if they have to carry an injury

It’s hard to impress when you get the odd start here and there. Players need proper investment once identified and by that they need a good few starts in a row

Just look at Wiese when he started he looked prettt average but has settled and found his mark thanks to investment

Yes Mpower when DA goes it’s pointless replacing him with Esterhuizen given his age

We need to see one of Willemse, David Kriel or Ethan Hooker played at 12 once DA goes. For me it would be Willemse

I like David Kriel at 12. A guy that has everything necessary to succeed there. Even a above average kicker for poles.

At 13 I also like Henco V Wyk and Rikus Pretorius. Henco was at the Alignment Camp, but as we’ve learnt, that means sweet blow all.

Kriel is not even on the Radar yet and if he ever will be, we will have to wait and see.

What a absolute disgrace that so much talent is being overlooked by The Genius!

Rickus is a 12, agreed it’s ridiculous that David Kriel has not featured especially considering his utility value being able to play 15, wing, 12 and 13 along with being able to kick for poles

The other player I feel for is Ruben v Heerden

Agreed. Ruben V Heerden another Alignment Camp victim.

The man is really playing well for the stormers game in and game out. Even if the stormers loose, he always manages to play good Rugby.

You know the list of young locks, that will hopefully (fingers crossed ) not be left out in the dark forever.

What will Rassie,s policy be in the 25 season??

Will he carry on like this year investing in the past tense generation or will he indeed start playing with the future generation and build that predominantly new Bok team??

Well, after the England game, it's really hard to see any progress in our back play. Compared to the All Blacks, who created multiple opportunities against a brilliant French defense with layer upon layer of productive attack but just failed to keep their composure once the goal line came in sight, we simply look pedantic and we still choose the kick as a first choice of action. Despite all the hype around Brown's involvement, we remain rooted in the 10-man game and we have Cheslin Kolbe to make things look better every now and then when we actually manage to get the ball to him all of about twice a game.

Agreed Pakie…..if we didn’t have these brilliant individuals, where would we be?

At stages as soon as the Ball left the scrum , we looked completely lost.

England helped us many times by just being dumb and not clinical enough.

Had it been a French or AB side, they would have had the ammunition, to put us away.

Brown admitted that our core strengths should stay and adding the attack clout based of our fundamentals, was what the goal is…

There is still plenty to do before we get there…. I just think that more of this Attack prowess should be visible at this stage.

I think once SFM is back, that can be better accommodated.

Libbok with some good cross kicks, did not manage to direct the Backs.

Pollard a good option for the tight grind kind of games, also lacks that spark to direct and lead the Backline.

We have to face it that this team is so set/settled in there ways and gameplay,

that it will literally take 1 or 2 sticks of dynamite, to get them to change course!

How may times did the Ball through passing reached the wings.  if it was once it would be indeed be a surprise.    The inside ackline players saw to that and Pollard was not to blame - te prblem ere the cneters  wih Esterhuizne buggering up ttoally.  

I agreee with D ave - forget about the 30 year old Esterhuizen and think of Willemse and Modie.   but playing on the level he is at prsent De  Allende may last thrugh to 2027..  

Or better still Mozart oenly said if he ies nnot want to see he des not see it.   Experience o the past indicate eh invented iidents and lied about what happened or aother one is he describe the incident and lied about wahta ctually appened.    So comin g p wih the same BS Mozart comes up is dishonest.   l

What rugby do ou watch Mpower  - as you see it thee Bos playe no different to waht tey lyed uder Meyer nd Coetzee and even under White i 2004 to 2007.   But you should get a pair of new galsses - maybe it wil imrve your eyesght and undertanding of the game.    .     

To paraphrase Auda Abu Tayi in Lawrence of Arabia….thank the Lord  when he made you a fool Mike, he gave you a fool’s tongue.

Tony Brown has done sweet nothing to improve Bok backline play, I was hoping alongside of other Bok fans to see a difference but alas there's been nothing. The game against England was won by individual brilliance not by a Tony Brown footprint. AS a matter of fact nothing has changed in Bok backline play with regards to structure, strategy or pattern of play since Brown's introduction.... sad. The Boks don't look or play like world champions, they don't boss or impose themselves on the opposition, in most cases it's the opposition who do leaving the Boks found wanting. 

So far the Boks have made their own luck and won, there'll come a time when that luck runs out.

Well said denny.

The fact that nothing much has happened under Brown, has got Rassie written all over it..

Brown is not the HC and there is only so much he can change on his own without the approval of Erasmus.

If you looked at his work with Japan under Jamie Joseph , the evidence is very clear that he had much more free reign…

I ask you what is the use of getting a Attack coach but you stifle him? Erasmus is a control freak…

Just go look at that video in the change room WC 23 ( Chasing the Sun 2) where he singled out either Mostert or Bongi and accused them of being a Fucking liar because they caused a penalty ??

I would put it on here, but I don’t know how to do it and I have asked repeatedly how to…

If he Carries on like fucking hitler, humiliating a single player infront of everyone, that’s BS!

Ja, you have to wonder and I guess we'll never know the inner workings but no doubt Erase-miss sets the gameplan. But even so I don't see a Brown fingerprint and that's in every test the Boks have played.

Met Rassie once while he was coach at the Cheetahs.........the less said the better.

https://youtu.be/z-4XzgHhLWY?si=kNnnIJVn_X6Xx4Lx

something wrong I can't connect with that link

That’s funny I can… I copied the link on my I Phone and then posted it.

Anycase the title of the Video on You tube is : Rassie Erasmus Mad that Springboks did not keep their promise.

Sorry I am struggling to put things and videos on here from my phone.

Is it better if I use a laptop?

Got it....tx.

It would be interesting to get the context for that clip. This happened a lot in the old days in US College football….old men abusing young chaps who  can’t afford to react. Woody Hayes was the poster child for that kind of coaching. His famed career ended when he punched an opposition player taunting the Ohio State bench.

It’s odd, there’s a lot I don’t like about Rassie but I never saw him as one of the changing room bullies.

I have to agree that we don't quite have the back row that can hurt teams with great breaks. Wiese is dumb muscle and hardly makes 5 meters and takes a long time and slow the ball and phase play down. 

Kwagga is the only player in that mould, but he feeds of scraps and very tenacious. Kolisi likes to sit in the tram lines and act as very slow centre that runs skew and never passes. He has had some success over the years of breaking the line and scoring tries, but not enough. Savea and Doris as well as Van Der Vlier are the backrow players that really can make a dent. Sititi is another break out player of the year with amazing runs. Roos can do that for us, but I think the bok game plan is too restrictive to help play towards his explosiveness. I also believe Hannekom can do that and we saw how dangerous he can be. His best game was earlier in the year against Leinster. He destroyed them, but his next game there after wasn't to the same level. He will need to be able to do that every weekend. 

Pierre Spies was one of those rare 8's with serious pace, however his tackling was week and he dropped the ball way to often. He didn't have that mongrel that you need sometimes. 

Duanne for me in his day was still our best 8. We had Teichman, Bobby etc. But Duane was a juggernaut with pace and could pilfer balls of the deck. Wiese is the older version of Vermeulen after he lost his pace but still had power. 

We still have 3 more seasons before the next world cup. Let's see what Rassie does next season. I think next year he'll need to back more players and take a gamble on not picking his tried and tested. I don't like losing, I hate losing, but I'm seeing Australia building up a decent team. They are hurting and they are now starting to learn how to win. 

SA was in the same boat under Coetzee, those players bounced back and got 2 world cups. 

We can't have players that only know how to win next to World Cup winners, they need to suffer and overcome 

Big Joe before he got injured was a brilliant ballcarrier

We have plenty of potential in Roos, Hanekom and Manu Tsituka as attacking 8’s

Rassie can either stick with effective dumb muscle in Wiese or can go with the more attacking less direct options in the other 3

Your 7 is always going to be direct, your 8 should be a balance between direct and attacking and an ideal 6 should be attacking and good over the ball

Rassie Erasmus Mad that Springboks did not keep their promise.

That sounds like a chat they had at halftime during the England RWC semi? If I recall correctly from Chasing the Sun.