Springboks show why you should never give up

NEVER give up or underestimate the power of adversity. Never think a goal is out of reach and simply impossible to achieve. Seven years ago, give or take, a group of mainly young

South African rugby players lined up against New Zealand at Albany North Harbour and got absolutely thrashed and humiliated 57-0. The absolute nadir of South African rugby.

Starting that day for the Boks were Tendai Mtawarira, Malcolm Marx, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Jesse Kriel and Siya Kolisi and putting in long shifts off the bench – in vain – were Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Handre Pollard and Damian de Allende. Since then, give or take one or two retirements and long injury absences, that group has provided the basis of two World Cup winning teams and currently sit atop the rugby Championship.

Never give up.