National pride at stake: Shukri Conrad seeks Springbok inspiration for Proteas' historic challenge
As 'biggest final ever' looms for Proteas, head coach Shukri Conrad popped in to visit back-to-back world champions, the Springboks, at their alignment camp.
South Africa's sport has been on a hot run in recent times. Across the first three weeks of May, the Blitzboks won the SVNS World Championship in Los Angeles, South Africa won three medals at the World Relays in Guangzhou, China, and Amajita – South Africa's Under-20s — were crowned Afcon champions.
But the most-acclaimed champions in the country, the Springboks, who are back-to-back Rugby World Cup winners, have led the winning charge with Rassie Erasmus in the coach's box on both occasions.
It is no surprise then that the South Africa's national cricket coach, Shukri Conrad, was keen on rubbing shoulders with the brains trust that pulled off the World Cup double.
'For all of us it's been really inspiring,' Conrad said, after spending time with the Springbok squad that gathered in Cape Town for the team's second alignment camp of the year. 'If you look at the history of the Springboks, if you look at the past two successive World Cups — back-to-back, potentially a third…
'They obviously must be doing a lot of things right and we'd like to see what they're doing right and then learn from each other.'
The Proteas, since their readmission to international cricket in 1991, have underdelivered compared with expectations in the trophy department. It's something Conrad is looking to correct when his side face Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord's in England from 11 June 2025.
'It used to be a month away, it's now next week when we leave for the UK for what is our biggest final ever, I'd like to think,' Conrad said.
Cross-pollination
Conrad added that the language used by the Springboks was similar to that used by the Proteas, although the process of delivering the message was different.
'Listening, sitting in this morning and chatting to some of the players and coaches, and listening to and going through the presentation that Rassie and some of the coaches did is just the common threads that we find across both sports,' Conrad added.
'We might not have put a lot of these things in a documented form necessarily, but the languages are pretty much the same.
'What I find really interesting is just the implementation of certain things. Where playing for the Springboks has got to be the biggest thing, playing for the Proteas has to be the biggest thing.
'If that can be the one thing that you're going to really hone in on — which is the case with the Springboks and which is what we're trying to establish with the Proteas. Playing for the national side has to be the biggest thing.'
Their meeting is not a one-off thing either, with Conrad interested in sharing and gaining knowledge from South Africa's other national sporting coaches.
'I really think so. It's something that — both Rassie and I agree — we should be spending a lot more time together as head coaches,' he said.
'I'd love to spend some time with Hugo (Broos) or Desiree Ellis in the soccer space. I watch every Bafana Bafana game, I started watching netball when the World Cup was here.
'I know there's a slogan, 'Stronger Together', and it's exactly that, we can all be stronger together. Sharing in national pride is the same across every code.
'It's great rubbing shoulders across different codes. It's not only coming here wanting to learn from them, it's us almost sharing ideas, and that was always the intention when Rassie and I first started chatting.
'Just the cross-pollination, sharing of ideas and learning from each other.'
Erasmus, who has spent time with Bafana coach Broos in the past, shared Conrad's sentiments.
'I firmly believe in having our national coaches working together and sharing ideas, as we all have the same goal in mind – to make the country proud – so we are thrilled that they took time out of their busy schedules to spend the day with us,' Erasmus said about Conrad's visit.
'Hopefully, we can see a lot more collaboration between all our national coaches in the future.'
Beaming with pride
Conrad, who watches national sport beaming with pride, will be keen to bring that same pride to other South Africans when they play against Australia in the World Test Championship final.
'Just a few weeks ago, watching our athletes in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays — there's so much pride, you feel being part of any South African team is unmatched, whether it's the Springboks, Bafana Bafana, or the Proteas,' he said.
'I don't think there's a better feeling in the world than being involved with the national side.
'The more we share ideas and spend time together and help each other along on this journey, it can only go well for our country on a broader scale as well.'
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