Matfield unconcerned by Springbok IP loss as Tony Brown heads to All Blacks after World Cup

Victor Matfield has played down fears over intellectual property loss after Tony Brown confirmed he will join the All Blacks following next year’s Rugby World Cup, insisting the move will make the South Africa–New Zealand rivalry “even bigger”.

Brown, a former All Blacks playmaker, joined Rassie Erasmus’ coaching staff in 2024 and quickly left his mark on the back-to-back world champions, bringing the high-tempo attacking game he had developed at the Highlanders and with Japan’s Brave Blossoms. He is now the only coach contracted to the All Blacks beyond the current World Cup cycle, with new head coach Dave Rennie and his staff signed on 18-month deals following Scott Robertson’s shock exit.

Speaking on the Rugby Rivals podcast, the 127-Test Springbok said the situation was not without precedent and that Erasmus’ trademark transparency had already prepared the squad for the transition.

“One thing I do like about Rassie is his open communication. Before the last World Cup, we knew Jacques [Nienaber] and Felix [Jones] were going to leave, almost a year before the World Cup, and they still did a fantastic job,” Matfield said.

“That must be Tony’s dream — he’s a New Zealander, he’s a proud All Black. It must be the ultimate job for him. So, we’ll use him; we’ll tap into all of his knowledge for this last year. Hopefully, he gets a World Cup with the Boks, and then it’s going to be an even bigger rivalry.”

Matfield’s co-host, former All Black John Kirwin, said the early announcement of Brown’s signing was a rare show of proactive planning from New Zealand Rugby. “I’ve never seen the New Zealand Rugby Union do anything like this, so I’m really excited about it,” Kirwin said, before adding with characteristic banter: “We’re going to steal all of your IP, Victor, and bring it back to New Zealand — which is what you guys have done with Browny in the first place.”

On the substance of that IP concern, Matfield was measured. He acknowledged the Springboks’ identity is well-known — set-piece dominance, territorial kicking, aerial contests, and dangerous wide runners — and suggested that familiarity cuts both ways.

“I think most of the guys know exactly what we do, how we do it,” he said, before recalling a comparable moment from his playing days when lineout specialist Gert Smal departed for Ireland, taking detailed knowledge of Springbok set-piece work with him.

The broader implication of Brown’s move is that the 2027 Rugby World Cup, should both nations progress deep into the tournament, could be shaped in part by a coach who has worked intimately with both sides — a dynamic that Matfield, for one, appears to relish rather than fear.