The recipe for success that carried the 2023 Springboks to an astonishing fourth world title was one that had lessons for South Africa as a country, said Bok assistant coach Deon Davids as he reflected on Saturday’s ferocious 12-11 victory over New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final at the Stade de France in Paris.
The Springbok team became only the second to win back-to-back titles and has now has a remarkable 50% tournament win rate at Rugby World Cups, to be labelled in some quarters as one of the greatest rugby teams of all time.
The Boks did so against stacked odds – beating the host nations in the quarter-finals in 2019 and 2023 – and having the character to survive three heart-stopping knockout matches with a combined points difference of three!
Davids put the success down to a shared belief – a lesson for all South Africa, he said.
“Rugby is a team sport and the biggest message over the past year and more is that if there is alignment and striving towards a common goal then great things can be achieved,” he said.
“Everyone has to buy in to achieve that common goal and to do that you have to put aside your differences. You have to understand that we come from different cultures and different backgrounds and it’s about minding each other without trying to change who you are or what you do.
“If you want to achieve something significant then you have to understand everyone is needed in achieving that and it’s not about you, but it’s about accepting who you are and who someone else is and buying in to achieve that specific goal.”
The team’s mantra has always been “let the main thing, stay the main thing”, which has been focusing on doing whatever it takes to win rugby matches. But it has been done under the banner of #StrongerTogether – a call for all people to unite for the greater good.
Davids said that the principle had worked for the Springboks and could be a lesson for the rest of South African life.
“It’s something that you can apply in every circumstance outside of rugby,” said Davids.
“If you are aligned to a common goal or to a task and you are willing to put your own goals aside for the good of what is at stake you can achieve anything,” he said.
“It isn’t only about lessons in rugby, it is about lessons in life and I think we can continue this and apply this recipe in our society.”
