The victorious Springboks will be arriving back in South Africa on Tuesday after winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

The Springbok made history in Paris on Saturday night when they beat the All Blacks 12-11 at Stade de France to become the first team to win the iconic Webb Ellis cup for a record fourth time.

Before their departure to South Africa the assistant coach, Deon Davids,  said that rugby is a team sport and this is a lesson that should be applicable to all South Africans.

“Rugby is a team sport and the biggest message over the past year and more is that if there is alignment and striving towards a common goal then great things can be achieved,” he said.

“Everyone has to buy in to achieve that common goal and to do that you have to put aside your differences. You have to understand that we come from different cultures and different backgrounds and it’s about minding each other without trying to change who you are or what you do.

“If you want to achieve something significant then you have to understand everyone is needed in achieving that and it’s not about you, but it’s about accepting who you are and who someone else is and buying in to achieve that specific goal.

“It’s something that you can apply in every circumstance outside of rugby.

“If you are aligned to a common goal or to a task and you are willing to put your own goals aside for the good of what is at stake you can achieve anything,” he said.

“It isn’t only about lessons in rugby, it is about lessons in life and I think we can continue this and apply this recipe in our society.”

The Springboks Trophy Tour will start on Thursday in Johannesburg, Soweto, and Pretoria.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport