What South Africa achieved as a rugby team over the last 3 weekends is nothing short of miraculous. The team was tested to their limits and still came out on top. If they were not a team they would have crumbled under the intense pressure, but they seemed to thrive on this.
to work together in order to achieve a shared aim, rather than trying to achieve things just for yourself or working against others
Last weekend saw the Rugby World Cup final which South Africa went on to win and highlighted the short comings of other teams. The team is made up of players who have a common goal and the team comes first above everything else. All the thoughts are tunnel visioned towards the team winning and nothing else matters.
This "team first" was highlighted by sports commentators and the press being the main reason why South Africa were victorious. When you start to dissect their tournament the "team first" stands out head and shoulders over every other team. Not only the players on the field, but the entire squad including those who weren't even on the bench were on the same page. This is so rare to achieve due to the various personalities and ego's involved in a group of 33 players knowing there are only 23 players in the match day team.
The South African players were substituted immediately if they were not performing to the required standards no matter who they were. The captain was subbed after 48 minutes in the semi final due to needing a different type of player that being a substitute who was more direct and more robust. On player was subbed after 28 minutes which raised eye brows saying it was a rough call on the player. The team has to come first and more importantly everyone has to buy into this or it wont work.
If you think of the football players in he English Premiership who have even argued with the manager when being subbed. There is no room for petulance in a team sport and football players could learn a lot from being a team player. The results over the course of a season will be more consistent and not so up and down. Over the last few seasons we have heard the words the manager has lost he dressing room which tells you the players think thy are bigger than the club. Until those players are removed you don't have a team with a common goal. The SA rugby team would not have won if they didn't believe in the ethos of the team.
The SA team is not made up of stars who are the best players in the world in their chosen position, but they all compliment each other making a team that much stronger. Work ethic, commitment and desire will overcome teams who are built around a handful of star players. One or two players don't make a team and seeing a team over come all the odds is rather refreshing.
There is nothing better as a player when you are part of a team who play for each other. I luckily experienced this once through my sporting career and we went unbeaten the entire season. You can assemble the correct mix of players ,but the overall team is driven by the coaching staff who keep the ship afloat heading in the same direction. The coaches and players all compliment each other and what makes a team so powerful as the belief is that intense. Nothing phases you no matter what is thrown at you as you know you are going to over come these challenges. The "team first" principal that SA has is very very rare and why it stood out so much.