What the Springboks can teach us about building a winning economy

WHEN the final whistle blew and the Springboks lifted the Rugby Championship trophy — shortly after defending their Rugby World Cup crown — a wave of unity swept across South Africa. For a brief, golden moment, 62 million people stood as one.

- DR NIK EBERL

It wasn’t just about rugby. It was about belief. It was about seeing ourselves — resilient, diverse, unstoppable — reflected on the world stage.

The Springboks have achieved what many thought impossible: winning back-to-back World Cups and the Rugby Championship in the same cycle. But their greatest victory isn't only on the scoreboard.

Its in the blueprint they've given us — a model for how South Africa can rebuild trust, confidence, and momentum in our economy.

Because what works on the field, works in the nation.

1 Shared Purpose Over Self-Interest

“We all have to buy into the same vision. If you don't believe in the cause, you can’t win together,’ Coach Rassie Erasmus once said.

Champions don't play for themselves — they play for something bigger. Every

ership is about empowering people, not controlling them. You need to make every player feel valued, regardless of their position”

Rassie Erasmus and Siya Kolisi have rewritten the leadership manual. They don't lead through command, but through connection. They give credit, take responsibility, and make every player feel seen.

That kind of leadership builds belief — the most valuable currency in any team or economy. South Africa doesn't need more bosses; it needs more builders of belief. Leaders who bring people together, not tear them apart. Leaders who listen, lift, and lead with heart.

3 Diversity as Strength