With the majority of the team at KBR, the UK distributor of Forecast 5, being of proudly South African heritage, I hope our UK based clients and our staunch All Black Development Team will allow us a few moments to reflect on the momentous success of the Springboks at the Yokohama Stadium on Saturday when, for the first time, a black South African rugby captain lifted the golden Webb Ellis Trophy.
South Africa’s Rugby World Cup triumph in 2019 eclipses the side’s success in 1995, according to former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar.
Pienaar was presented with the Cup by president Nelson Mandela in an iconic moment in the nation’s post-apartheid history.
“2019 is bigger,” said Pienaar.
“It is a transformed team with 58 million people watching in South Africa, all races wearing green, which wouldn’t have happened in my time.“
And John Smit, winning captain in 2007 agrees.
Every big project – whether its planning from afar to win the Rugby World Cup or to develop your corporate budget for the ensuing years – needs a range of skills, not least of which is leadership.
The leadership on the field of the current Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi, was clear for all to see whilst his speech after the game was inspiring
And to coach Rassie Erasmus – who masterminded this project and has now been selected Coach of the Year – must go huge credit for his wisdom, strategic management and inter-personnel skills. These are evident in the post match press conference, below.
I particularly liked Siya’s comments about how the Coach kept encouraging the players (3:35) about honesty (9:35), from Rassie about defusing pressure by creating hope (10:45) and his insight on why the Springboks dominated the scrums; their big men in the front five had been substituted earlier throughout the tournament and were less fatigued! (5:00).
Go Bokke – you have made us very proud!
An inspiring interview with both Rassie and Siya.
Thanks Nick, its been a great six week festival of rugby, with a fitting conclusion
Cyril could do worse than ask them for some private Leadership coaching himself …?
Well done on distributing the two clips – the tight 5 resting plan sounds seriously smart.
Thanks, Jim.
Jake White wrote, after the 2007 RWC victory, that he’d been given advice by Prof Tim Noakes on ensuring the guys were well rested.
Thank you; these are wonderful and well deserved tributes to Siya Kolisi and his ‘World Champions’ team. It makes us all super proud of South Africa. Let us all hope this victory will be a catalyst for some really positive change in South Africa, especially for those living in townships that for too long have had so little going their way.
Peter, thank you. Nelson Mandela knew so well that sport could make a difference; lets hold thumbs that with Siya Kolisi and his team this time the inspiration and hope will be a powerful catalyst for positive change.