🧵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. 🧵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.