Success in any sport is a multifaceted journey that blends physical prowess with mental fortitude.
It’s the countless hours of physical training, blended with strategizing and coming up with astute tactics to be a step ahead of all opposition teams to soar to the very pinnacle of being numero uno.
Well, the Springboks have shown this in abundance by ascending to their latest accolade of being crowned the winners of the Rugby Championship after they annihilated Argentina 48-7 this Saturday at Mbombela (formerly known as Nelspruit, P.S. – history lesson).
In the quest to achieve 48 points, South Africa scored a monstrous seven tries enroute to making the 128th test for celebrated lock Eben Etzebeth truly special as he became the most capped international player for his nation.
To put this into context, 100+ caps in rugby is as massive as 300+ caps in cricket which unquestionably is a landmark worth every praise.
Truth be told, the Almighty has been smiling aplenty on the Springboks over the last few years, with back-to-back World Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2023, Freedom Cup victors this year after surmounting the All Blacks as well as having two Rugby Championships in their bag with the title conquests in 2009 and 2019.
The true leaders of not only the Southern Hemisphere but also the globe.
If these accolades are not deserving enough, one should wonder what is?
The Springboks at the moment are playing a brand of rugby that’s at a level miles above the other forces at play and the camaraderie that each member in the squad shares with his team-mate is testament to two words, keep going!
In 2024 they have played nine games and have come out victors on seven occasions, a whopping 77% win-loss ratio. The highest of any rugby playing nation.
Yes, let this sink in!
Credit must also go to inspirational coach Rassie Erasmus, whose guidance has shaped not only the team’s performance but also their character with losing not being an option.
This undoubtedly has furthered each player’s confidence who not only play for the 15 members in the match squad albeit also for the 64 million Mzansi fans back home that stand united undaunted by race or colour to back this team.
Perhaps, that’s the reason the Springbok slogan of ‘Stronger Together’ has been conceptualised to get a nation together hungry for inspiration.
As the Springboks give us another reason to rejoice, may we fans continue to passionately roar as the Bokke fervently soar!