1
Is this why Ireland and England struggle to win World Cups?
Hulle weet nee wat ons weet nie. They don’t know what we know.
This refrain, popularised by the UFC fighter Dricus du Plessis, has become a mantra of the Springboks. The words now featured on t-shirts, on highway-side billboards and on large banners inside stadia are seen by many South African rugby fans as a lightning rod for what makes their team so special.
ADVERTISEMENT
And while there is an obvious truth to this, and one has to acknowledge the tangible effect of what is essentially a marketing slogan, it is easy to understand why supporters – and indeed players – of other nations must be sick to the back teeth with it all.
Because of course non-South Africans don’t understand what it’s like to be South African. But the experience of living in and representing Ireland, Australia, England or Argentina is just as unique. Every country in the world will have their own legends, their own reasons for thriving on the world stage, their own distinctive carrots and sticks that compel rugby players into contact for 80 minutes.
Did South Africa want the World Cup, the Rugby Championship and the British & Irish Lions series more than the opposition? Perhaps they did and that is why the trophy cabinet back home is creaking under all that silverware. Or perhaps their strength in depth, their monstrous pack, their hot-stepping wingers and Handre Pollard’s right boot had more of an impact than Siya Kolisi’s tale of personal struggle or Rassie Erasmus’ tears.
Speaking on the For the Love of Rugby Podcast last month, Pollard praised the South African coaching group for stressing the importance of the narrative. He explained that he’s not consciously thinking of hungry children and high crime rates when he’s lining up a game-winning kick, but those images are seared into the back of his mind. Does this mean that his actions matter more than those of a Scottish or Italian fly-half? Maybe it does.
But none of this is set in stone. Sure the tethering of South African politics with South African sport makes this an easier stitch for the Springboks, but that does not mean that other nations cannot replicate this sense of mission. And as the margins between the top teams continue to shrink, maybe this is the variable that could prove decisive in the future.
ADVERTISEMENT
Should teams now appoint full-time coaches to help in this regard? Should every international squad have someone on staff with words like ‘reason coach’ or ‘purpose instructor’ or ‘mission consultant’ on their CV? These are not mental skills coaches who deal with other abstract principles like pressure or performance anxiety. These are coaches who do what the Springboks coaches are already doing and press home a higher sense of purpose throughout the group.
That’s a bit silly, isn’t it? A ‘purpose coach’? What’s next, a vibes coordinator? But there’s a degree of sense in there, and if that has even the slightest chance of extracting an extra few tackles per game from a player, or motivates another to carry with a little bit more menace in the 81st minute, then it’s surely worth exploring.
Teams already try to leverage external narratives to fuel performance. The All Blacks have a full-time cultural advisor in their ranks and the Australians have incorporated indigenous motifs and customs throughout their organisation. But are they doing enough to link tries and mauls and breakdowns to their national identity? Has any Wallaby ever stuck his chest out and declared that his player of the match performance was for all the people of Australia and meant it?
Let’s focus on Europe. Is it any wonder that Scotland now perennially beat England in Six Nations campaigns that end in disappointment? Is it simply that Duhan van der Merwe is unstoppable when running at defenders in white, or is there something just below the surface that ignites passions in Scottish hearts to make sure those who came before, that those who fought and died for a wee bit of hill and glen, can look down and be proud?
ADVERTISEMENT
Carl Jung said that “as far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.” Life as a professional rugby player is a challenge, especially in the hyper-professional age we now inhabit. The constant churn that sees participants move from training grounds to buses to hotel rooms to press conferences to aeroplanes to vast arenas must at times feel like a drudge. It’s why coaches today attempt to manage their players’ emotions.
But emotion can be a tool and the Springboks coaches have used it better than the competition. Forget jingoism and exceptionalism for a minute. By hammering home the point that his players are doing something that is bigger than any individual, Erasmus has squeezed a little bit more from every one of them.
Could other nations follow? Some might find it difficult. In conversation with Pollard on their podcast, Ben Youngs and Dan Cole admitted that English groups have struggled in this regard. This makes sense when overt displays of nationalism in Britain can often be seen as distasteful. But surely that shouldn’t stop Steve Borthwick from at least giving it a go.
The same is true for Ireland. Imagine one of the Irish players declaring his desire to produce a performance that brings joy to supporters across the border. Perhaps a member of the squad could start stressing the teams’ unifying qualities and how it brings previously conflicting religious groups together. Brian O’Driscoll explored this in a documentary in 2018. Why has this conversation been pushed to the fringe?
International sport is political by its nature. Those who wear a nation’s flag on their chest when they go to work are not just athletes but de facto ambassadors whether they like it or not. They are, for 80 minutes at least, the living embodiments of that country. Maybe a stronger, more conspicuous link between what they’re doing and who they’re representing could bear fruit.
Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)
The assumption here is that this SA attribute was the reason for the RWC win and the failure of NH teams. I don't believe it was much of a factor at all with several other more important factors being crucial.
-Experience: Of the SA squad the number of players with a lot of experience of winning knock out RWC matches (1/4, 1/2 and finals) is enormous. NZ are not far behind. England reached a final last time. Contrasting with Ireland and France who had literally zero players with any experience of winning a knock out match. Ireland and France could of course gain experience with a QF win assuming the draw segregates the top 4 teams before the semis.
-The Draw as we know was based on rankings 4 years before and as a result Wales and England were top 4 ranked teams even though they were ranked #10, #8 respectively just before the tournament. Not only did Ireland and France get drawn in the same pools as SA and NZ but those pools were due to play eachother in the quarters. Ergo SA/NZ got to play Ire/Fra in the quarters when the latter would be most vulnerable experience wise. As Ire/Fra beat SA/NZ it can be argued that experience was a major factor compounded by the draw.
-Quality. The Top 4 seemed to be a cut above the rest with perhaps a gap apparent between NZ and France.
-Squad depth. Accumulated fatigue. Again the draw was critical here with the side having a potential France quarter and England semi being the hardest route. Lack of depth in SA squad meant that England dominated the match with the bomb squad and Pollard just about saving the day. It came down to a penalty and an element of luck was needed. England's resolve didn't break and was stronger than SA on the day. The scrum and penalties won it. That fatigue carried to the final where a point victory against 14 shows that the extra heavy matches (Scotland/England) took their toll on SA and they needed luck.
NZ/IRE/ENG/FRA no less motivated than SA.
Ireland were well aware of the unifying ability of rugby. They decided that the connection with supporters was most important to them...from all provinces. Ireland brought 60,000 fans to some matches and that was the unifying factor talked about and used by Ireland. The author was a little lazy at not doing a rudimentary check for that as Farrell and the team had said it.
The 6N teams all flog themselves in World Cup years, compared to the RC teams that shorten their rugby schedule in World Cup years.
In 2023 the 6N teams played games for 4 consecutive weeks leading up the start of the world cup as "warm up games". So come the World Cup QF they had already played for 9 consecutive weeks. Is it any wonder they can't find the last point or last play they need? They wait until the WC every four years to design a schedule that means they will be more fatigued than RC teams.
By contrast NZ played 5 games in the 12 months leading up the World Cup, only 2 as warm up games, SA played 6 in 12 months leading up also with 2 warm up games.
Really keen insight in a great article. Thanks. We are the stories we tell ourselves and the Bok narrative, grounded in a lot of truth, is irresistible, beautiful and full of hope.
There is no denying the passion of Welsh, Scottish and Irish when playing England.
Except that only England have been in and won the world cup.
Clive Woodward might disagree that England players lack that last degree of willpower to dig out a win .
The RFU management have messed about ever since Clives glorious team . He set the blueprint which through jealousy was ignored.
It remains to be seen if Ireland will carry on winning when the ,shall we say , the "invited" players move on .Passion or not .
S Africa win because they believe.
Only one non Irish raised player was on the team that beat SA in Durban. Not sure SH people really understand Irish rugby to be honest. With a fairer draw in 2027, and a round of 16, Ireland should hopefully be able to get some knock out winning experience before meeting big beasts this time.
Really great article. Other coaches should take note.
Pfft. One penalty the other way and ABs would hold the cup and these conversations would not be happening
-SA get the try against Ireland then its a NH/SH final and who would beat France at that stage?
-England 9 points up with 10 to go, hold on and its an ENG/NZ final and we are talking about a miracle England RWC win or else about 'why we ever doubted All Blacks".
-Barrett doesn't stop a certain try, or one of the plays that led to a 15 - 0 lead against Ireland don't work and Ireland win the QF?
Etzebeth knocks that hand block slightly forward and its penalty try 14-0 to France, Etzebeth is sin binned and no way back for SA.
Unfortunately the draw turned the tournament into a lot of coin flicks.
If you had the top 4 seeds properly to meet in Semi Finals then you are looking at less luck.
And yet there wasn't... So this conversation is happening.
The size and quality of late from South Africa needs to be investigated, perhaps a good starting point would be genetics and what they're breastfed.
Iron sharpens iron, look at the level of competition of schools rugby and how many have to fight to make it to the pro ranks, every level you have to fight because in 3 years time another prodigy will come for your spot
Biltong and mealy pap?
Many have the passion, ambition, talents and commitment...... few have the faith. It goes beyond soul, thats why they do not know what we know. Its more than commitment, its a corporate belief
Did that corporate belief force Cane to get red carded in the final?
Because NZ were winning that match otherwise.
So my take is that SA have a top coach who knows exactly how to lead the set up in pretty much all aspects. His players, coaching team, support staff, union and wider SA public are aligned superbly with his narrative and this doesn’t happen by accident. He set out his terms for the job before he started, so was able to gain all the control he required, and boy has he done a superlative job on the back of it.
No one is perfect, he makes mistakes and he has plenty of detractors. But make no mistake, Rassie is a world class operator and history will judge him so.
Agreed. Other countries should note the coaching team he assembles and his ability to get the best from them. The French and English wins were outstanding.
With the fatigue levels they had for the final they had to risk a 7-1. NZ will be kicking themselves for a long time. A dry day and SA were in trouble. But all NZ had to do was stay close and tire them. A similar standard coach to Erasmus for NZ and they always win that match.
You can’t replicate the passion of the Springboks. The history and the importance of the Springboks to South Africa is unrivalled. The only country that comes close is NZ.
Neither a scratch on Wales.
Rassie is an extremely shrewd PR operator but the hype and melodrama is a sideshow to take the attention from the real reason for the Boks dominance.
Utimately the Boks dominate because Rassie and his team are so scientific and so driven. His attention to detail and obsessive analysis smacks of Tom Brady's approach.
He has engineered a system to find and nurture talent from the best schools to the most desolate backwaters. That system has a culture and doctrine very similar to elite military units, it does not tolerate individuals at the expense of the collective.
That machine also churns out three to five world class players in every position. They are encouraged to play in Ireland, England, France and Japan where their performance continues to be monitored according to metrics that is well guarded IP.
Older players are begged to play in the less physical Japanese league as it extends their careers. No Saffa really wants to see Etzebeth or Peter Steph or Pollard play in France or British Isles. And especially not in South Africa, where you just have these big, physical young guns coming out of hyper competitive schools looking for blood.
Last but but no means the least is the rugby public's alignment with the Springbok agenda. We love it when they win between World Cups but there is zero drama if they lose a game or a string of games for the sake of squad depth.
It's taken time to put it together but it has just matured into a relentless machine.
Well rugby is pretty much the national game of SA and NZ, so the passion runs that much higher in the general populace; if either of these sides do poorly in the RWC the players do not relish returning home without the expected spoils!
It has its positive side, of course; the 2023 AB side was clearly a step or two below previous sides, but they managed to contend the final through sheer desperation.
Expectations do carry a heavy weight, which might explain why the Irish went home after the QF.
The only significant match NZ won was against Ireland which NZ had been preparing for for a year. Both Ireland and France had zero players with experience of winning a knock out match. Literally zero. They wanted to be playing NZ or SA in a semi not a quarter final. If two teams from SA/NZ/FRA/IRL had to go home with all of equal ability then experience could be key. It's as simple as that. Ireland played well in every match in the world cup. Beating NZ a week after Scotland in a Quarter was a massive ask and just too much. Small margins though.
The National sport in South Africa is football. 50 mil followers.
Scotland lost eight in a row against England before their current handful of wins. That wee bit of hill and Glen didn't do much for them in those games.
But it did in the last few. You miss the point. England should do a whole better against every rugby nation but they don't. Nothing to play for perhaps.