When Rassie Erasmus took over as coach of the Springboks in 2018, few
thought they had a chance of winning the Rugby World Cup. The Boks had
slipped to seventh in the world rankings and lost the faith of the
rugby-loving public. Less than two years later, jubilant crowds lined
the streets of South Africa's cities to welcome back the victorious
team.
Sportswriter Lloyd Burnard takes the listener on the thrilling journey
of a team that went from no-hopers to world champions. He examines how
exactly this turnaround was achieved. Interviews with players, coaches
and support staff reveal how the principles of inclusion, openness and
focus, as well as careful planning and superb physical conditioning,
became the basis for a winning formula. The key roles played by Rassie
Erasmus and Siya Kolisi shine through.
There were ups and downs along the way: beating the All Blacks in
Wellington during the Rugby Championship was a high point, but then came
Kolisi's injury, while in Japan the distractions of a volatile support
base sometimes shook the players' focus. Miracle Men is filled with
marvellous anecdotes and sharp insights. It is also inspiring testimony
to what can be achieved when a group of South Africans from all
backgrounds come together as a team.
