14 October 2026
Johan Ackermann is anchoring his rugby career by drawing inspiration from real-life triumphs. The veteran coach relies heavily on powerful human-interest stories to fuel his competitive drive and ground his tactical approach. For Ackermann, true motivation stretches far beyond the touchline and into the realms of human resilience.
“I enjoy inspiring stories from real life and things that people have overcome. It could be a guy who walks onto the stage at America’s Got Talent, and the judges have already judged him by his looks, and then he has this amazing talent,” he says.
Managing the high-stakes pressure of top-tier rugby requires a deliberate mental escape. Ackermann actively balances the relentless demands of the training ground with quiet moments of personal reflection. Striking this balance allows him to reset before steering his squad into the next physical battle.
“For me personally, it’s a fine balance between being present and finding your own time. There is always a lot going on around a team, especially when we’re on tour. So I often go for a walk to switch off and listen to worship music," Ackermann explains.
Ackermann uses video analysis for more than just breaking down opposition defensive lines. When the whistle blows to end practice, he switches focus to real-world overcoming-adversity narratives. These videos serve as a stark reminder of perspective when facing must-win match scenarios.
“I’ll also watch a lot of videos of people overcoming challenges in their lives. I watch a lot of rugby because it’s so much a part of my life, so when I need to get away from that a bit I love to watch these inspiring stories. It always reminds me that people go through incredible challenges which are much harder than just the pressure on us to win a match,” says Ackermann.
In the intense build-up to this Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign, Ackermann has integrated these powerful narratives straight into his team meetings. He utilises these off-field examples to galvanise his players and forge a tougher collective mindset. It is a coaching strategy designed to build character alongside rugby skills.
“I showed them a video of a rugby league player in Australia (Jai Arrow) who was diagnosed with motor neuron disease. The team arranged that he could go onto the field and off again for two matches just to get his 100 caps for them because he is a legend there. It just makes you appreciate life so much more,” he notes.
A sense of structural stability has settled over the camp ahead of the new season's kickoff. Having navigated the initial teething problems of his tenure, Ackermann is now refining a settled culture rather than rebuilding from scratch. The focus shifts from survival to execution.
“There is more of a calm this season just because it’s not as new as it all was last season. This team showed a lot of unity last season. But it is a new season with changes in the team as players come in and others go," Ackermann points out.
Despite the heartbreak of a previous Grand Final defeat, the coaching staff refuses to panic or scrap their existing blueprint. They are opting for measured adjustments based on hard data and precise technical reviews. The goal remains to convert last year's close misses into this season's silverware.
“You need to be careful that just because you lost a Grand Final, you don’t go and turn everything on its head. We took what we needed from last season and what the stats showed and our own observations, and hopefully we can build on that this season,” Ackermann concludes.