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Struggling Sunwolves suffer Super Rugby blow after 'tough decision' by Joesph

Sunwolves head coach Jamie Joseph (right) and assistant Tony Brown (left)

Tony Brown will take over as Sunwolves head coach for the remainder of the Super Rugby season as Jamie Joseph is set to undergo a back operation.

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Joseph is to return to New Zealand for a minor procedure, so Brown – who works as the team’s attack coach – will step up to the lead role for the final three fixtures, starting with the clash against the Bulls on June 30.

Japan head coach Joseph will be given time to recover ahead of the November Tests against New Zealand and England.

“Though it was a very tough decision for me not to accompany the Sunwolves for the last three matches of the season, I had to think of what was best for the greater goal of Japanese Rugby.” said Joseph.

“The team will be in the very capable hands of Tony Brown and our support staff and I will look forward to continue to monitor their progress till the end of the Super Rugby Season for 2018.”

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Nickers 28 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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