How Rassie's Springboks Won The World Cup By Cracking The Culture Code

I'm picking up where I left off in my last post, which is to say, having reached the other side of 40, I seem to have developed a new found admiration and respect for team work.

Of course, it's still important to me what that team does, but it has become equally important to me, to no longer dare great things on my own. And this was never more evident, or more beautifully captured for me, than in Supersport's 'Chasing the Sun' documentary of the Springboks' 2019 rugby world cup (RWC) win in Japan. 

Not only did the documentary reignite my awareness and appreciation for teamwork - especially within a South African (and God's favourite country) context, but it reminded me of all that is possible against great odds. Or as Daniel Coyle so brilliantly wrote about it his book, of what's possible when you crack the 'Culture Code'. And that's exactly what Rassie Erasmus' 2019 world cup Springbok team did. In fact, I think they did a lot more than that... 

Because something that South Africa at every level in society needs, is a good understanding of what a winning culture looks like, works like, and can perform like. This was actually the real gift the Springboks gave us 18 months ago, and one that Chasing the Sun (CTS) so brilliantly unwrapped for us 6 month ago.

So, if you find yourself playing a part in any team (on the field or off it), and if you possess the desire to perform better as a unit, then I would most sincerely recommend you watch CTS and / or read Culture Code by Daniel Coyle. Alternatively, your can carry on reading below for my summarized combination of both, as illustrated through 6 indispensable and RWC winning attributes.

Here goes;

1. To BELONG...
1. Chasing the Sun (CTS) got its name from a speech delivered in 1999 by then president, Nelson Mandela (quote) "I am the product of Africa and her long-cherished dream of a rebirth that can now be realised so that all of her children may play in the sun."
2. Rassie was the 1st Springbok coach to openly talk about and discuss the transformation requirements / agenda with the players themselves, in a team setting. Nothing hidden, nothing excused. He was also the first coach to appoint a black Springbok Captain (Siya Kolisi), and the one to have spoken the most broken and colourful English I have ever heard.
3. Picking up on Mandela's dream for the children of South Africa (above), interestingly enough, it was Kolisi himself who went public with his views on the 2019 RWC target of 50% black player representation, by stating; “I don’t think he [Mandela] would have supported that [quotas], but I don’t know him. I would not want to be picked because of my skin colour because that surely would not be good for the team, and the guys around you would know."
4. But all opinions aside, it was what it was, and both the coach and captain knew it. But that's obviously not all they knew, because what becomes very clear, very quickly in CTS, is that there was a job to do. And that job was to win rugby games in a green and gold jersey, not in a white, black, pink or purple skin. Rassie (and clearly Siya) made this crystal clear right from the beginning. Rugby was the reason they were going to Japan, whatever anyone else thought or said.
5. And so if Rassie belonged because of rugby, and Siya belonged because of rugby, then so did every other member of the 2019 RWC squad. Whether or not Siya believed that he would become the 1st black Springbok captain to lift the William Webb Ellis trophy, or Mapimpi & Kolbe believed they would be the 1st (never mind black) Springboks to score tries in a RWC final, we'll never know. But what we do know, is that belonging comes before believing, and Rassie and Siya settled that upfront. 
6. Belonging is not rooted in a transformation committee, but in team unity, founded upon the values of honesty, vulnerability, understanding and purpose.
   
   
   

   
   
2. To BELIEVE...
1. The Springboks might have lifted the trophy in Japan, but that's not when or where they 1st started winning the 2019 RWC. Rassie shares a story about one game in particular, that set the Springboks on their path to glory, long before the tournament began...
2. For Rassie, to truly believe you can win a world cup, required one critical victory in particular... The most difficult of all. To beat New Zealand, in New Zealand, in September 2018.
3. The Springboks had lost 2 test matches in the run up to that Wellington test, and to put this in perspective, Rassie later stated that he would have resigned as coach were the Springboks ever to lose 3 matches in a row. 
4. The story goes that the Springboks beat the All Blacks 36-34 that day, in arguably one of the greatest victories ever achieved by a Springbok team in New Zealand. It also happened to be the day that they 1st truly believed they could win the RWC in Japan.
5. But this belief was not based on sentiment or hype or hope. Instead it was forged by the will and ability to perform as the superior team, in the harshest environment, under the most intense pressure, together.
6. Belief is not rooted in hype or false hope, but rather in the ability to call your giant by name, look them in the eye, and then conquer them together.
   
   
   
   
   
3. To be WRONG...
1. Interestingly enough, the Springboks 1st game of the RWC was against none other than (you might have guessed it), NZ. As can be expected, it lived up to all expectations, all except a South African win that is. The Springboks lost 23-13.
2. Never before had a team lost a game in the pool round and gone on to win the RWC. The Springboks knew that. Rassie knew that. But it's something he said to the players immediately after that game, that struck me.
3. In a very dispirited and heartbroken change room, he offered words of encouragement for a Springbok 2nd half win (10-6), and then said he would need to go over the recording to learn more, and understand where he'd f#cked up. Huh?
4. Rassie, just hold on a second... What about the team!? What about their ill-discipline? Their missed tackles? Nope, nothing about that. But then we all know how much easier it is to own your stuff, when someone else is owning theirs. And own it they did.
5. The acknowledgment of messing up is not rooted in weakness, but rather a vulnerability and humility that inspires others to do the same.
   
   
   

   
   
4. To be CLEAR...
1. The Springboks faced Wales in their semi-final on route to the final. A team they had lost to in their previous 4 encounters. Picture running out to play a soccer game against the team that beat you 4-0 last month. Confident? No.
2. But that's not the attitude the Springboks adopted, because there was something that their coach told them, that they really needed and wanted to hear about Wales. Allow me to share a personal story of mine that helps makes this point. 
3. Many years ago, I was attending a birthday party for one of my school under 12 rugby friends, when suddenly the hosts (sausage) dog took a big juicy bite out of my calf. I was most upset (and eina!) by this unprovoked attack, and decided to immediately report the incident to my father (also present at the party).
4. I must say, I was quite surprised (but could have not been more liberated) by dad's response. Having taken a moment to process my account and eye out the offender, he simply said I should go bliksem (thrash) it (the dog) back, and agreed that the swing bat I was presently holding, would do a good job. Needless to say, I ensured that sausage dog was very sorry it bit me, and for some reason, I've never forgotten the incident since.
5. Well actually, here's the reason, and it's well captured by Rassie's instructions to his Springbok team who had been bitten by Wales on too many occasions to remember. Boys, you're bigger and stronger than them, so let's f#ck them up physically. Not quite Sunday school material, but that's not the point. Instead, it was a message that related directly to what the Springboks needed and wanted to hear, more than anything else in the world. And that's exactly what they did. 
6. Clarity of communication isn't rooted in well spoken or chosen words, but rather in a message that speaks to the heart, reminds you of who you are, and what you are capable of.
   
   
   

   
   
5. To be ONE...
1. There are so many plays in a rugby game, it's sometimes difficult to isolate exactly when and how a game is won and lost. This is especially true in a high pressure, tactical, and evenly contested game, which was exactly what the Springboks 2019 RWC semi and finals were. 
2. However, with the advent of detailed post match analysis, and Chasing the Sun's behind the scenes interviews, it became increasing clear to me, that South Africa's real ace at the RWC (alongside Handre Pollard's right foot) consisted of 3 words... The Bomb Squad!
3. The Bomb Squad (aka the Springbok reserves) consisted of 8 players, like every other team. However, the key differential with the Springbok reserves, was the 6/2 forward/backline split they used. To put this in perspective, that's 6 brand new pairs of forwards legs and arms, that could be called on at anytime to deliver in the last 2 games of the tournament... And they were called, and they did deliver!
4. But what you need to know, is that this very risky 6/2 split, was only made possible because of one man. The same man only started 2 pool games in the RWC, despite being one of the best and most experienced backline players in world rugby.
5. Or said another way, Frans Steyn's ability to play every backline position (except scrumhalf), coupled with his willingness to serve the team by simply warming the bench and mentoring the youngsters, made him the real ace in Rassie's deck (despite not even playing a single minute in either the semi or final).
6. And Frans wasn't alone, because Rassie ensured that every squad member had a role to play, in somehow supporting the guys who ran out onto the field. This Springbok team came to understand that game time was simply playing your part on the field (while others played theirs on the bench or off the field). And in the end, it was 2 bomb squaders off the bench, that made all the difference when it really mattered...
1. Francois Louw won a critical turnover in the semi against Wales to force a penalty in the Springboks half, which lead to a penalty in the Wales half, that won us the game.
2. Malcolm Marx was the set of lighting (hooker) hands that passed the ball to put (Lukhanyo) Am & Mapimpi away, for that unforgettable chip / catch / pass try in the final against England.
7. Being one is not rooted in giving your personal best, but rather in playing whatever part best serves the team... whatever, whenever, wherever, however that needs to look.
   
   
   
   
   
6. To be HUMBLE...
1. It's no secret that Siya Kolisi, the RWC Springbok Captain, is a Christian. This is obvious when you see him kneeling in prayer in his changeroom cubicle, or by the cross he draws on his taped wrist before every game.
2. But here's the secret I think many South Africans have missed about Kolisi. There's a scripture in the Bible that says 'For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his (God's) ears are open to their prayer' (1 Peter 3:12).
3. I'm sure you'll agree with me, that there are few greater marks of righteousness, than humility. In fact, it has been said that humility is the soil in which all virtues grow. On two occasions during the 2019 RWC, Kolisi exhibited a level of humility that I've never seen before, and here they are;
1. Recall the game that the Springbok's lost to the All Blacks in their RWC opener. Well, there was a moment when they were looking down the barrel, having conceded 17 points in 10 minutes, trying to gather themselves behind the posts. And so naturally the captain must speak. And speak Kolisi did. He asked Duanne Van Meulen, Springbok no. 8 veteran, to address the team instead.
2. At the world cup final award ceremony, having received their winning medals, the great moment had at last arrived, and Kolisi was presented the William Webb Ellis trophy. Surely, the crowning moment of any mortal South African man's life. But it was in that moment, that cameras show Kolisi looking to Faf de Klerk (the indomitable Springbok scrumhalf) alongside him, and gesturing if he would like to lift the trophy instead (which Faf of course declined).
4. These 2 incidents confirm for me at least 1 thing... that the Springbok captain is a righteous man, that the Springbok captain's prayers were heard, and that the Springbok captain's prayers where answered! Of course, I know that the Springboks have won 2 previous RWC's without Kolisi, but there were no tries by a Springbok in either of those finals, never mind by a black Springbok, never mind by 1 from rural Eastern Cape with no family left to celebrate him scoring it (Mapimpi).
5. To be humble is not rooted in thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less, and perhaps a little more of the one who scripted your story anyway.

Is it any coincidence then, that Daniel Coyle's book 'Culture Code', highlights all 6 markers mentioned above, as proven keys to a winning team culture. Perhaps that too, was a prayer of Siya Kolisi's?

Learn the markers South Africa, and you too can go play in the sun a little!

Nkosi Sikeleli iAfrica!