🧵Okay so this is because I promised @Oom_Rugby something like this almost a year ago - so blame him!
First off, I am a bit of a nerd, I love analysis, I love technology, studied data science, built systems and continuously read studies on what makes people successful. So read it as such. This is a bit of a long read, so I will split it in 5 different sections. And of course I am completely biased and have a huge respect for these two gentlemen.
First some background. Professional rugby isn't for the faint-hearted, although I have not been involved in High Performance structures for 7 years now, I am still exposed to that environment enough to see this.
Over the last two weeks, social media has been a rollercoaster of hot takes: from declaring Rassie Erasmus's era (and some players') over after that gut-wrenching Eden Park loss, to crowning him the greatest coach in world rugby following the Springboks' seismic 43-10 demolition of the All Blacks in Wellington.
It's the same story across the Tasman—New Zealand fans and media went from euphoric vindication for Scott "Razor" Robertson after the Auckland win, to outright calls for his sacking or at least some soul-searching introspection after their heaviest-ever Test defeat.
But my focus isn't on the All Blacks (though, let's be real, they could probably borrow a page or two from this playbook). Instead, let's deep-dive into the phenoms that are Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber. Yes, I said *Jacques* too—he was the defensive architect and cultural architect behind the Springboks' 2018 turnaround, sticking through to that back-to-back Rugby World Cup glory in 2023. Having had the privilege of working with both, I've seen up close how their partnership isn't just tactical brilliance; it's a masterclass in the psychology of success. It's about finding answers where others see dead ends, blending sky-high emotional intelligence (EQ) with intellectual firepower (IQ) to build unbreakable teams. To follow, I zoom into the 5 areas.
First off, I am a bit of a nerd, I love analysis, I love technology, studied data science, built systems and continuously read studies on what makes people successful. So read it as such. This is a bit of a long read, so I will split it in 5 different sections. And of course I am completely biased and have a huge respect for these two gentlemen.
First some background. Professional rugby isn't for the faint-hearted, although I have not been involved in High Performance structures for 7 years now, I am still exposed to that environment enough to see this.
Over the last two weeks, social media has been a rollercoaster of hot takes: from declaring Rassie Erasmus's era (and some players') over after that gut-wrenching Eden Park loss, to crowning him the greatest coach in world rugby following the Springboks' seismic 43-10 demolition of the All Blacks in Wellington.
It's the same story across the Tasman—New Zealand fans and media went from euphoric vindication for Scott "Razor" Robertson after the Auckland win, to outright calls for his sacking or at least some soul-searching introspection after their heaviest-ever Test defeat.
But my focus isn't on the All Blacks (though, let's be real, they could probably borrow a page or two from this playbook). Instead, let's deep-dive into the phenoms that are Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber. Yes, I said *Jacques* too—he was the defensive architect and cultural architect behind the Springboks' 2018 turnaround, sticking through to that back-to-back Rugby World Cup glory in 2023. Having had the privilege of working with both, I've seen up close how their partnership isn't just tactical brilliance; it's a masterclass in the psychology of success. It's about finding answers where others see dead ends, blending sky-high emotional intelligence (EQ) with intellectual firepower (IQ) to build unbreakable teams. To follow, I zoom into the 5 areas.
🧵Long Read 1: From Army Mates to Rugby Revolutionaries.
Their story starts in the mid-1990s, when meeting in the South African army sparked a friendship that would redefine the sport. From there, they synced up at the Free State Cheetahs, where Rassie evolved from star player and captain to head coach, and Jacques shifted from team physio to defensive mastermind. Together, they did the impossible: shattering a 30-year Currie Cup drought in 2005 (and sharing it again in 2006), transforming a perennial underdog into a powerhouse through obsessive preparation. Fun fact? Rassie was the first in South Africa to splash cash on rugby analysis software—back when he was *still playing* for the Cats in Super Rugby, clipping game sequences for set pieces, attacks, and defenses like a one-man scouting department.
By 2018, when they took the Springboks reins, their resume was already stacked. This isn't serendipity—it's a 25+ year loop of synergy. Rassie brings the big-picture disruption and visionary sparks; Jacques delivers the granular execution and steady hand. But what truly sets them apart? The psychology. They don't just grind harder; they *think* and *feel* their way through chaos differently, treating failures as raw data for iteration while others crumble.
Their story starts in the mid-1990s, when meeting in the South African army sparked a friendship that would redefine the sport. From there, they synced up at the Free State Cheetahs, where Rassie evolved from star player and captain to head coach, and Jacques shifted from team physio to defensive mastermind. Together, they did the impossible: shattering a 30-year Currie Cup drought in 2005 (and sharing it again in 2006), transforming a perennial underdog into a powerhouse through obsessive preparation. Fun fact? Rassie was the first in South Africa to splash cash on rugby analysis software—back when he was *still playing* for the Cats in Super Rugby, clipping game sequences for set pieces, attacks, and defenses like a one-man scouting department.
By 2018, when they took the Springboks reins, their resume was already stacked. This isn't serendipity—it's a 25+ year loop of synergy. Rassie brings the big-picture disruption and visionary sparks; Jacques delivers the granular execution and steady hand. But what truly sets them apart? The psychology. They don't just grind harder; they *think* and *feel* their way through chaos differently, treating failures as raw data for iteration while others crumble.
🧵Long Read 2: Answers in the Unknown
Successful leaders like these two operate on a different wavelength, they thrive by reframing uncertainty as opportunity—a high tolerance for ambiguity that's rare in high-stakes sports.
Take Rassie's IQ-driven foresight: In the late '90s, he was already building a personal video library of set-piece clips, which evolved into tools like "Outfox," his PlayStation-esque simulator for testing playbooks. It's why he's always described as "5-10 steps ahead"—spotting patterns no one else sees, like slotting winger Cheslin Kolbe at scrum-half in a 7-1 bench split during the 2023 World Cup final, or faking lineout calls to lure opponents into traps. Jacques mirrors this with defensive IQ: His systems turned the Stormers into a fortress and birthed the Springboks' "choke/rush/umbrella” defense, which neutered the many a team.
But it's the EQ that glues it all. Psychologically, their drive stems from intrinsic motivation—logging endless hours without burnout because the goal isn't just victory; it's *evolving the game*. Rassie even turned a 2021 Lions series ban into gold by masquerading as a water-boy to eavesdrop on referees. Genius? Not in isolation. It's consistent because they balance the analytical edge with relational warmth.
Rassie's "people-reading" superpower? It's empathetic foresight at its finest. He doesn't chase raw talent; he spots who fits the team dynamic, like recalling veteran fly-half Morne Steyn for that miraculous 2021 drop-goal against the British & Irish Lions, betting on his clutch mentality over youth. Players like Siya Kolisi swear by him—last weekend, Damien "Gaza" Willemse dedicated the Wellington win to Rassie and his late friend Bevan Fortuin, a nod to the loyalty they inspire. Jacques - and now the current coaching group, the calmer counterpoint to Rassie's intensity, excels at extraction: Tailoring feedback to unlock the best in beasts like Eben Etzebeth or Pieter-Steph du Toit.
As Jacques once put it, Rassie was "100% convinced we would win the World Cup"—not with arrogance, but by sharing that unshakeable belief to rally the group. The result? A loyalty loop where players feel truly *seen*, repaying with fierce buy-in. Look at the post-2018 Springboks rebuild: Ranked sixth globally, winless in 11 of 25 Tests, yet they forged a "one team" culture that turned individual egos into collective armor. It's psychological judo, pure and simple.
Successful leaders like these two operate on a different wavelength, they thrive by reframing uncertainty as opportunity—a high tolerance for ambiguity that's rare in high-stakes sports.
Take Rassie's IQ-driven foresight: In the late '90s, he was already building a personal video library of set-piece clips, which evolved into tools like "Outfox," his PlayStation-esque simulator for testing playbooks. It's why he's always described as "5-10 steps ahead"—spotting patterns no one else sees, like slotting winger Cheslin Kolbe at scrum-half in a 7-1 bench split during the 2023 World Cup final, or faking lineout calls to lure opponents into traps. Jacques mirrors this with defensive IQ: His systems turned the Stormers into a fortress and birthed the Springboks' "choke/rush/umbrella” defense, which neutered the many a team.
But it's the EQ that glues it all. Psychologically, their drive stems from intrinsic motivation—logging endless hours without burnout because the goal isn't just victory; it's *evolving the game*. Rassie even turned a 2021 Lions series ban into gold by masquerading as a water-boy to eavesdrop on referees. Genius? Not in isolation. It's consistent because they balance the analytical edge with relational warmth.
Rassie's "people-reading" superpower? It's empathetic foresight at its finest. He doesn't chase raw talent; he spots who fits the team dynamic, like recalling veteran fly-half Morne Steyn for that miraculous 2021 drop-goal against the British & Irish Lions, betting on his clutch mentality over youth. Players like Siya Kolisi swear by him—last weekend, Damien "Gaza" Willemse dedicated the Wellington win to Rassie and his late friend Bevan Fortuin, a nod to the loyalty they inspire. Jacques - and now the current coaching group, the calmer counterpoint to Rassie's intensity, excels at extraction: Tailoring feedback to unlock the best in beasts like Eben Etzebeth or Pieter-Steph du Toit.
As Jacques once put it, Rassie was "100% convinced we would win the World Cup"—not with arrogance, but by sharing that unshakeable belief to rally the group. The result? A loyalty loop where players feel truly *seen*, repaying with fierce buy-in. Look at the post-2018 Springboks rebuild: Ranked sixth globally, winless in 11 of 25 Tests, yet they forged a "one team" culture that turned individual egos into collective armor. It's psychological judo, pure and simple.
🧵(Not so) Long Read 3: From "The Thing" to Record-Breaking Tries
Attention to detail isn't drudgery for them—it's synthesis, the hidden lever for breakthroughs. Rassie's tricks, like blasting "La Marseillaise" through speakers in training to desensitize the team to French crowd roar, or Jacques' lineout innovations (dual jumping pods that carved up Australia for tries), demand sustained focus. High-IQ types chunk information like chess grandmasters scanning a board, but their EQ makes it collaborative: Involving the squad in analysis turns it into a team ritual, boosting buy-in and excitement.
Remember *Chasing the Sun*, the Springboks' documentary? That's where the midfield maul was born—in a hotel room huddle with players brainstorming. So innovative, they didn't even have a name for it at first; they just called it "The Thing." 😏 As Kolbe says, it keeps everyone "willing to learn" because flops become shared experiments, not finger-pointing sessions.
Attention to detail isn't drudgery for them—it's synthesis, the hidden lever for breakthroughs. Rassie's tricks, like blasting "La Marseillaise" through speakers in training to desensitize the team to French crowd roar, or Jacques' lineout innovations (dual jumping pods that carved up Australia for tries), demand sustained focus. High-IQ types chunk information like chess grandmasters scanning a board, but their EQ makes it collaborative: Involving the squad in analysis turns it into a team ritual, boosting buy-in and excitement.
Remember *Chasing the Sun*, the Springboks' documentary? That's where the midfield maul was born—in a hotel room huddle with players brainstorming. So innovative, they didn't even have a name for it at first; they just called it "The Thing." 😏 As Kolbe says, it keeps everyone "willing to learn" because flops become shared experiments, not finger-pointing sessions.
🧵Long Read 4: Eden Park Heartache to Wellington Glory
The last two Tests? A textbook showcase of their magic. Eden Park would've *crushed* them—that fortress hasn't fallen to a visitor in decades. With a battle-hardened lineup of RWC winners like Kolisi, Etzebeth, PSDT, Pollard, Willie grinding through heavy minutes, the Boks dominated territory and set pieces but faltered on execution. A classic "shoulda-woulda-coulda" that Rassie—ever the tactician—had targeted as the ultimate prize.
Yet, just seven days later in Wellington, a near-total overhaul: Five backline changes, greener combos, and early injuries forcing mid-game pivots. The result? A 43-10 rout—the All Blacks' worst loss ever—with 36 unanswered second-half points and tries exploding from intercepts, counters, and set-piece sorcery. From a defense-first juggernaut to a side scoring from *everywhere*. Damian Willemse nailed it post-match: "Tonight we were much more clinical," honing the edges exposed in Auckland.
This wasn't panic; it was calculated evolution. Rassie doesn't just coach tactics—he cultivates *conviction*. The review process, rooted in his playing-day analysis obsession, zeroed in on finishing, reframing the hurt as fuel: "We're good enough; let's unleash it with fresh legs." Injected youth and versatility flipped the script from gritty World Cup grind to multifaceted attack, dodging predictability. Even Razor admitted: "When they got rolling, they were relentless. We couldn’t buy a moment."
That "latent ability" the group tapped into? It's baked in through Rassie's growth mindset drills—losses like Eden Park become data for surges, building unbreakable confidence that "we *can* score from anywhere if we adapt." Studies on elite performance echo this: Balancing IQ's edge with EQ's relational glue can boost leadership impact by up to 58%, enabling overhauls without fracturing identity. The Boks smashed records, even shorthanded, because they *believe* in the evolution.
The last two Tests? A textbook showcase of their magic. Eden Park would've *crushed* them—that fortress hasn't fallen to a visitor in decades. With a battle-hardened lineup of RWC winners like Kolisi, Etzebeth, PSDT, Pollard, Willie grinding through heavy minutes, the Boks dominated territory and set pieces but faltered on execution. A classic "shoulda-woulda-coulda" that Rassie—ever the tactician—had targeted as the ultimate prize.
Yet, just seven days later in Wellington, a near-total overhaul: Five backline changes, greener combos, and early injuries forcing mid-game pivots. The result? A 43-10 rout—the All Blacks' worst loss ever—with 36 unanswered second-half points and tries exploding from intercepts, counters, and set-piece sorcery. From a defense-first juggernaut to a side scoring from *everywhere*. Damian Willemse nailed it post-match: "Tonight we were much more clinical," honing the edges exposed in Auckland.
This wasn't panic; it was calculated evolution. Rassie doesn't just coach tactics—he cultivates *conviction*. The review process, rooted in his playing-day analysis obsession, zeroed in on finishing, reframing the hurt as fuel: "We're good enough; let's unleash it with fresh legs." Injected youth and versatility flipped the script from gritty World Cup grind to multifaceted attack, dodging predictability. Even Razor admitted: "When they got rolling, they were relentless. We couldn’t buy a moment."
That "latent ability" the group tapped into? It's baked in through Rassie's growth mindset drills—losses like Eden Park become data for surges, building unbreakable confidence that "we *can* score from anywhere if we adapt." Studies on elite performance echo this: Balancing IQ's edge with EQ's relational glue can boost leadership impact by up to 58%, enabling overhauls without fracturing identity. The Boks smashed records, even shorthanded, because they *believe* in the evolution.
🧵Last Read: Humility in the Genius
The word "genius" gets thrown around too loosely, and I know for a fact Rassie and Jacques would recoil—they're humble students of the game, always evolving. That's maybe why it fits them so well; they're not chasing labels, just impact. Having observed them (and the wider coaching group) up close, the takeaways are universal: Read people deeply, reframe failures as fuel, collaborate on the details, and build trust that turns squads into families.
It's why the Springboks rose from rubble to rulers—and even with Jacques thriving at Leinster. It is why we are probably witnessing the greatest era in Bok history. I call it a psychological flywheel: Rassie's visionary IQ ignites the spark, Jacques' (and by extension the extended coaching group) steady EQ grounds it, and together they forge loyalty that conquers fortresses (although not Eden Park yet).
Hope you enjoyed this…
The word "genius" gets thrown around too loosely, and I know for a fact Rassie and Jacques would recoil—they're humble students of the game, always evolving. That's maybe why it fits them so well; they're not chasing labels, just impact. Having observed them (and the wider coaching group) up close, the takeaways are universal: Read people deeply, reframe failures as fuel, collaborate on the details, and build trust that turns squads into families.
It's why the Springboks rose from rubble to rulers—and even with Jacques thriving at Leinster. It is why we are probably witnessing the greatest era in Bok history. I call it a psychological flywheel: Rassie's visionary IQ ignites the spark, Jacques' (and by extension the extended coaching group) steady EQ grounds it, and together they forge loyalty that conquers fortresses (although not Eden Park yet).
Hope you enjoyed this…
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