2011 Rugby World Cup Final Highlights

[Filomeno Robles]

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This marks the third post in a series of discussions that connect aspects of rugby (*cough* the greatest sport on the planet) and explore its relevance to the business world. In our second discussion (Part 2: Mike Tyson on Planning, Planning, and More Planning), we discussed using planning as a skill to develop attributes that will consistently help over time. We now shift gears to the next topic:

Note: I've put quotations around "unexpected" because with solid planning, you tend to identify many of the things that could occur. While not true to the literal sense of the word, I'm talking mostly about how we respond to changing landscapes or events.

My first inclination in this post was to reel off all of the twists and turns that took place during the 2023 RWC and then line up business events with those. Then I started mentally listing some of the events like: England's red card in the first pool game vs. Argentina (crucial game), the Antoine Dupont injury to France, Sam Cane's red card in the finals, and so on.

In the 2011 RWC on the Friday before NZ's last pool game against Canada, Dan Carter tore his groin muscle in the captain's run less than 36 hours before kickoff. With Dan's impact on the team, his role in managing the games, the weight of the nation at home, and the terrible timing leading into the quarter-finals, this could have been catastrophic. The unreal part of this story is that the next player in that position was Colin Slade, who then also was injured before the final, leaving the door open for the third choice Aaron Cruden to keep NZ's hopes alive in the finals against France. Wildly, Cruden went down 30 minutes into that final, and in steps Stephen Donald, who only a few weeks before was fishing on the Waikato River when he got the call from Graham Henry to join the squad as the 4th or 5th selection at fly-half. Donald coolly kicked the winning penalty goal partway through that match and went on to become a massive part of the All Blacks folklore as a result. You couldn't have scripted the movie any better.

There are a number of different mindsets we could highlight in this story. Notably the mindset of the team and staff, the mindset of the replacement players, and the mindset of Dan Carter himself. In the interest of time, I'll focus only on the last one - the mindset of Dan himself.

I've just finished reading The Art of Winning, which is a new release by Dan Carter who chronicles many of the ups and downs in his career and how they translate to life after rugby. A fantastic read/listen that I would recommend to anyone (The Art of Winning: Lessons in Leadership, Purpose and Potential: Carter, Dan: 9781529146196: Books - Amazon.ca).

In effect this question allowed him to pause and reflect but also to create a set of values that from that moment on guided his career. Pay close attention to the language used also, as he has set the bar high with the word "great".

The ability to set the bar extremely high - I would suggest these are relative to your own goals but make sure that you have an accountability standard in there. You may not be able to be a sporting legend, but you certainly can be great within your own realm. The ability to reflect on failures and setbacks as they emerge and then build on those. Interestingly enough, Carter came back after the 2011 season to be named the world rugby player of the year in 2012 and then also went on to win the 2015 RWC and was named player of the final which in my opinion is a testament to the type of person and player he is - a true sporting great.

The important part to consider is how you respond when things don't go the way you like. How you set your mind to mastering the emotions will dictate how clearly you can think and how quickly you can respond to adverse scenarios.

Before we move on to the next two elements to focus on, here are two more books worth reading on mindset if you haven't already: "Mindset" by Carol S. Dweck and "Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.

After you've steeled your mind to comprehend an unexpected event, the next important thing is assessing the options available in the appropriate timeline. This is key because we need to know what options are available to us and we also need to know how quickly/slowly we need to act (not all unexpected events need a quick reaction). In the Dan Carter example, Graham Henry had to understand who was going to fill those shoes, who would surround that person to support (i.e. change the makeup of the team), who was then the backup to the former backup, and then who would eventually replace that person. Those decisions had to be made over the course of 1 day, 1 week, and 3 weeks. Different time frames for different key decisions.

When Dan Carter goes down the night before a match, the structure of an international rugby team allows for replacements to immediately fill the spot. It doesn't give much in the way of time for planning or gelling the squad, but you can bet that there have been ample reps with different team members in the weeks leading up to that match. The important part is that the whole squad recognized that the game plan was still the same, the tactics still the same, and the skill level from 1-15 was still extremely high. In that instance before the Canada match, it was more likely a position of just stay the course and start prepping for what will happen in the quarter-finals onward.

In business, we have a term in our office called Ready, Fire, Aim. In this context, it is extremely important to take the right amount of time with the "ready" portion (as outlined above) but then equally important is being able to "fire". This is especially crucial when an unexpected event occurs as action is a very key step. Many great leaders know that they still have the ability to course correct once they leap into action, so they use the "aim" component once they've started to put in play their solutions. Avoiding analysis paralysis is more art than science, but once you've established a great mindset, assessed all of the options available and had some practice kicking them off, this becomes more natural.

In the dynamic landscape of both sports and business, the ability to effectively respond to unexpected events is paramount. In this post we've explored the qualities essential for handling such situations, focusing on mindset, assessing options, and acting quickly with clear direction.

We learned from the unforgettable story of Dan Carter's injury during the 2011 Rugby World Cup that a resilient mindset can transform setbacks into opportunities. Embracing high standards and using setbacks as stepping stones are powerful principles to guide us in our careers and lives.

Assessing available options within the appropriate time frame is key, just as it was for rugby coaches making quick decisions to adapt to unforeseen circumstances. In the business world, considering different perspectives and incorporating devil's advocate opinions can prevent hasty decisions and illuminate the path forward.

Acting swiftly with a clear sense of direction, akin to the "Ready, Fire, Aim" approach, is crucial for leaders facing unexpected challenges. While mistakes may occur, the ability to course-correct and adjust the trajectory is a hallmark of successful leaders.

In conclusion, whether on the rugby field or in the boardroom, our capacity to respond to the unexpected events that life throws our way defines our ability to navigate complexities and seize opportunities. The lessons from rugby can be seamlessly applied to the business world, offering valuable insights on handling the unpredictable with grace and determination.

Dan - I have a jersey that we traded from a test in 2007 in Hamilton, where we played opposite one another. It is framed in my basement and I tell all my friends that you have mine framed in your basement too. Can you please corroborate my story? Thanks... :)

South Africa are world rugby champions once again, retaining their 2019 title to win the 2023 World Cup final by the finest of margins at the Stade de France. Sealing a close-run 12-11 victory over bitter rivals New Zealand, the Springboks survived a second-half onslaught that saw them twice go down to 14 players and concede the game's only try.

The first half set the tone early, with brutal defence from both sides restricting free-flowing ball movement and establishing that both the set-piece and points off the tee would be crucial. Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi was forced off just three minutes into the game, with the culprit Shannon Frizell sent to the sin-bin and Handre Pollard kicking his side into a 3-0 lead.

The sides exchanged penalties throughout the first quarter of the game, with Pollard adding two more either side of one for All Blacks fly-half Richie Mo'unga. South Africa's 9-3 lead looked even healthier on the half-hour mark, as New Zealand captain Sam Cane was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle. This was later upgraded to red by the TMO, meaning the flanker became the first player to be sent off in a Rugby World Cup final.

Another penalty for either side was converted before the break, putting South Africa 12-6 up, but the second half began in the worst possible way for the Springboks, with captain Siya Kolisi the latest player binned for a high tackle on Ardie Savea. With the game 14 vs 14 for the next 10 minutes, the All Blacks found another gear, and Aaron Smith was denied the opening try after Savea's knock-on preceded a wonderful backline move.

New Zealand wouldn't lie down wondering though, and finally cracked the South African rearguard open to cross for what proved to be the decider's only try. Jordie Barrett's wide pass gave Mark Telea the space to punch a hole in the defence, and his brother Beauden Barrett was on hand to crash over in the corner. Mo'unga pulled the conversion wide to keep the All Blacks 11-12 down, and the next 21 minutes became a game of inches with the scoreboard on a knife-edge.

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