Why Scott Robertson’s sacking puts Springbok attack guru Tony Bown in All Blacks' sights

The firing of Scott Robertson as coach of the All Blacks could have a direct impact on the Springboks, as it may result in the loss of attack coach Tony Brown.

Robertson was dramatically sacked on Thursday, 15 January 2026, after a New Zealand Rugby (NZR) review of his performance — fuelled by dissent from leading players such as Ardie Savea — resulted in his exit midway through a four-year term.

The early favourite for the All Black reins is Jamie Joseph, whom Robertson beat to the job when Ian Foster exited after the 2023 World Cup. It was a two-horse race then, and Robertson won based on his record of seven straight Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders.

Crucially, from a South African point of view, Brown was on the Joseph election ticket. When Robertson got the job and offered Brown an assistant position, Brown turned it down out of loyalty to Joseph.

Joseph and Brown are an inseparable unit, a partnership dating back to their playing days at Otago when Joseph was a flanker and Brown the flyhalf. Joseph played 20 Tests for the All Blacks and Brown 18.

The 56-year-old Joseph went into coaching earlier than Brown (50), but they soon teamed up as a unit with Otago, the Highlanders, Japan, and the Sunwolves before Brown took up the offer from the Springboks in 2024.

If Joseph gets the job — and he is hotly tipped to beat other candidates like Joe Schmidt, Dave Rennie, and Pat Lam — then Brown will surely receive a call. Brown recently had his contract with the Springboks extended to the end of 2031, as did all the assistants after Rassie Erasmus negotiated on their behalf.

However, international contracts usually contain out-clauses for native national team opportunities, and Brown may have such a provision for New Zealand.

An enquiry to SA Rugby on this subject awaits a response. If Brown does jump the Springbok ship for an All Blacks job, it would have serious repercussions for South Africa just months before the "Greatest Rivalry" tour in August.

Not only would Brown have intimate intelligence of the South African players, but his work on the Bok attack is starting to blossom, with significant room for further growth. If Joseph is appointed, a fair agreement might be that any departure only takes effect after the conclusion of the upcoming series against the All Blacks.