How to win a World Cup: Does it all come down to the grunt, not glitter?

There is no precise formula for peaking once every four years for the Webb Ellis Trophy. But no nation can win a World Cup without a strong sense of self

ALL THAT GLITTERS: South Africa's inspirational captain Siya Kolisi and head coach Rassie Erasmus with the Webb Ellis Trophy at their homecoming in Johannesburg in 2019. Pic: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images

TOGETHERNESS

You can’t do it alone. Even Jonah Lomu found that out, single-handedly flattening England in the Cape Town semi-final in 1995, a black-shirted wrecking ball. Ireland’s current attack coach, Mike Catt, still carries the bruises. Yet the Mandela effect trumped the most destructive player the game has ever seen. Never mind galvanising a team, the South African president brought the entire rainbow nation together that day at Ellis Park to trigger victory against hot favourites New Zealand.