Attack coach Tony Brown says the Springboks are approaching Saturday’s clash with the Barbarians in Cape Town with full Test-match intent to kickstart their 2025 campaign, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.
Speaking to the media on Monday in the buildup to the historic first meeting between the teams on South African soil, Brown emphasised the world champions’ aim to maintain the standards that saw them win 11 of 13 Tests in 2024.
“I think the Barbarians are a famous side worldwide and everyone knows how they play, what they try to do, and the style that they’ve got to uphold as being a Barbarians team, so we’re pretty aware of what’s coming and it’s unpredictable rugby,” the former All Blacks flyhalf said.
“But if your awareness is high around what they’re trying to do, then we can prepare as well as we can.
“It’s definitely a different challenge to what we normally would have. The Barbarians have always knocked over a lot of great sides over the years, so for us around that challenge it’s massive, so exactly what we want for our… I guess we’ll call it our first Test for the year.”
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Brown stressed the coaching staff’s approach remains unchanged regardless of the opposition’s invitational status.
“We’re preparing our players like it is a Test match, and it won’t be Barbarians versus Barbarians, it will be Springboks versus Barbarians, so everything we do will be around how we play the game, how we play Test match rugby, and how we’re going to win the game.”
The Cape Town Stadium match tees up upcoming Tests against Italy at Loftus Versfeld next Saturday, again in Gqeberha on 12 July, before facing Georgia in Nelspruit on 19 July.
“Yeah, well, the first thing is we see it as a Test match, and we’re going to play the game that way. The guys who have been given the opportunity to play against the Baa Baas need to perform as best they can,” Brown said.
“We need to get our coaching right, we need to get our plans right, and we always win Test matches through putting the opposition under pressure, whether it’s attack and defence, so that’ll be our plan against the Baa Baas.”
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The selection philosophy remains straightforward for Brown: “If you perform well, then you get another go the following week against Italy. We see it as four Test matches, versus a warm-up game and three Test matches.”
Uncapped props Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Neethling Fouche face the prospect of scrummaging against veteran Ireland legend Cian Healy, a challenge Brown relishes for his charges.
“I think playing against those experienced guys, every rugby player relishes that challenge,” he said. “And if you’re in the front row – not that I’ve ever played there, but I’ve heard it’s quite tough – I’m sure there’s a few tricks that Cian Healy will have, whoever he’s up against.”
With wet weather predicted for Cape Town this weekend, Brown remains confident in his team’s adaptability.
“Naturally when the weather’s wet, it’s harder to play attacking rugby, so then there’s a lot more kicking involved. But we’re pretty comfortable adapting our plans to the conditions,” the Kiwi said.
“I think the Baa Baas might be the ones that are a little bit concerned about the rain, but if it rains, it rains. Our guys are experienced, they know how to control those situations and know how to play wet weather rugby.”
Brown’s second season with the Boks brings increased confidence in the team’s attacking evolution. “I just think that from the attacking side of the game we just want to build on what we did last year. We want to make the players a lot better in all situations.
“This year I feel as though, after two weeks of training, we’re further ahead than we were last year around how we’re trying to play the game on both attack and defence. I’m excited to get started,” he concluded.
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images/Getty Images
