South Africa: Inside Rugby’s Greatest Manufacturing Factory

This is the simplest explanation and, perhaps, the least satisfactory.

South Africa has the largest rugby playing population in the world. But those inside the game insist that is only the starting point.

“I think the first thing that helps is, obviously, you need more participation,” said Rito Hlungwani, forwards coach of Cape Town-based United Rugby Championship (URC) side Stormers.

“I started playing rugby when the Springboks won the 1995 World Cup. Then if you look at it now, we’ve won two World Cups in a row, so participation has increased across ethnic lines.

“It’s really increased the number of kids playing rugby.”

But participation alone is not enough.

“What really drives it is mindset,” says Hlungwani

“People always talk about the physicality of South African rugby players. Kids these days, they just want to be like them. They want to be like the Springboks. They talk about physicality at the age of nine.

“It’s pretty much what’s in front of the windscreen that driving is participating in. Kids are learning from their heroes.”

speaking on Scrum V Podcast, Former Springbok Hanyani Shimange says there are clear characteristics one would expect to wear in green and gold.

“If you want to be a Springbok, you have to be solid defensively, have a high work rate and a good power game,” he said.

Hlungwani believes it is mentality, coaching and competitiveness that transform promising youngsters into Springboks.