South Africa’s World Cup Success Puts a Spotlight on Mental Endurance in Sport

South Africa showed plenty of mental endurance to win the World Cup.

When it comes to talking about rugby in the most basic terms, it can be easy to reduce the sport down to a game where the physical strength of the players involved is all important. After all, that physicality is often key to the performance of a team and whether they ultimately have the ability to succeed in the scrum or other critical moments of the game.

However, it is fair to say that there is much more to rugby than simply the force and strength of competitors, as the mental aspect of the sport is undoubtedly key to a team’s chances of success. Here we take a look at why mental outlook can come into play in a rugby match, as well as how embracing so-called ‘mind sports’ like poker could help players to improve their abilities.

Pressure on the big stage
Of course, if you’re looking for a great example of a rugby match where the mental toughness of those involved was absolutely key, we do not have to venture too far into the past to find one.

The Rugby World Cup final in Yokohama on November 2nd was the culmination of a truly thrilling tournament in Japan and, while it may have ended with the comfortable-looking score line of 32-12, we all know that South Africa had to work a lot harder in a physical and mental sense than what that result ultimately suggests.

The first half of the match in particular was a relatively close-run battle, with both the Springboks and England only getting on the scoresheet with penalties and neither of them being able to exert real dominance over the other. South Africa dug deep to gradually and slowly build their score and take a 12-6 lead into half time, but it cannot have been easy. After all, a final in itself is a high-pressure situation and scoring like that meant it would only take one England try to potentially change the entire shape of the game.

Of course, that never happened and South Africa were able to hold their nerve and even cut loose a little as the lead extended in the second half. As matters drew to a close, it then felt inevitable that Siya Kolisi would be the latest captain to lift the famous William Webb Ellis trophy.

South Africa’s victory in Japan was their third Rugby World Cup win

A high level of performance
However, while the Springboks eventually ground out the win, it could be argued that their ability to concentrate in the toughest moments was a genuine sign of real mental endurance.

The issue has become so important in sport, as it is all about how teams and competitors are able to maintain their highest level of performance in any given situation – whether it is a particularly hard point of a game, the pressure of the occasion they are involved in or even the hostility of the environment where the match is being played out.

It is a concept which is not just exclusive to rugby of course and the issue has been put in the spotlight across a range of sports in recent years. England’s national soccer side enjoyed a renaissance at the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and much of that was put down to the work undertaken by coach Gareth Southgate alongside the likes of sports psychologist Pippa Grange. Speaking to The Psychologist after that experience, she said that tournament had highlighted how sides being able to keep their nerve and show resilience was a ‘learnt experience’. She added that this kind of mental toughness is something that can be trained like a formation or other aspects of game management.

Furthermore, a major emphasis is put on mental endurance in activities such as marathon running. In an interview with Runners World, psychologist Justin Ross said it is a concept that is all about how a person responds to a challenge, with two key features being the willingness to endure and optimism about reaching an ultimate outcome.

From training changes to poker – ideas on improving
So how could a rugby player or another sportsperson look to address the issue of mental endurance and ensure they have the toughness they need to tackle the challenges that lie ahead?

While Ross’s article on Runners World focuses fundamentally on running, the points made could easily be applied to other areas. For example, he talks about the idea of being able tolerate discomfort more when a specific goal is in mind, as well as even training in difficult weather conditions to move out of any comfort zone that may have been established and open yourself up to handling tough situations.

Another potential approach that a sportsperson could consider is building up mental endurance by playing games where that form of toughness can be vital.

A classic example of this form of ‘mind sport’ would be poker, a card game classic which has become hugely popular both offline and online in the past couple of decades. Each variant of the game from stud poker to Texas Hold’em features a strong mental element and performing to a high level on a consistent basis can require significant amounts of concentration. In an article for 888poker, psychologist Jared Tendler offers poker tips and discusses the links between mental endurance and the game. He explains that having the right mental skills can make a huge difference to players, as it may help them not only play for longer but handle potentially draining high-pressure moments in a better way.

That mental element of poker may be a reason why it has become so popular with many sporting stars in recent years, with tennis champion Rafa Nadal, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo and even former England rugby star Mike Tindall trying their hand at it.

A fascinating area
So while the Springboks’ World Cup win might have taken South Africa back to the very top of rugby, it could also be argued that the final was a great reminder of the importance of mental toughness in sport.

The issue is absolutely vital in so many disciplines these days and there are undoubtedly steps that people can take on the issue, whether that it is through playing poker or simply making some changes to their training. It is undoubtedly a fascinating area and it will be intriguing to see how the role it plays in sport continues to develop in the years to come.