Jasper Wiese: You put aside your personal desires when you play for the Springboks.
At the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, South Africa’s Jasper Wiese celebrates his victory over New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final.
Jasper Wiese, a forward for the Springboks, has disclosed what matters more to the South African rugby squad than the actual World Cup trophy.
The Springboks’ 2023 Webb Ellis Cup victory in France is the subject of Chasing the Sun 2, which will be released on Sunday. Back row standout Wiese has revealed what motivated the team to win the world championship again.
A more important reason
Wiese revealed to Planet Rugby exclusively, “The trophy is an empty cup.” Don’t get me wrong, winning it felt immensely privileged, and it’s a truly unique experience.
But what really sets the Springboks apart is the inspiration they can muster as a team. This is a group of people who prioritize the needs of others over their own.
“a unique group of individuals uniting, prepared to battle not for themselves but for their team and nation.” I believe that people now identify the Springboks with being an inspirational team. Being a part of that is really humble.
In association with the Boks, the Super documentary narrates the story of South Africa’s ascent from glory in 2019 to the Paris final versus New Zealand four years later and the nation’s fourth championship.
Captain Siya Kolisi opens the presentation by saying, “The rest of the world will never comprehend what it’s like to be a South African.”
I adore that about our group. We all play for different reasons, have diverse histories, are of different races, and had distinct dreams. However, we share the desire to make South Africa proud.
From the day he was appointed South Africa’s first black captain in 2018, Kolisi has been steadfast in this regard. His inspiring leadership served as the catalyst for his team’s ascent to fame.
“If you believe your life has been difficult, hear from a few of our team members’ experiences,” Wiese said. “Pay attention to Makazole Mapimpi and look at Siya.”
Kolisi’s tale is now widely recognized. The child who was born in the Zwide township of Port Elizabeth with nothing and only enough food to survive is now an inspiration to everyone who faces similar challenges.
In 2019, Mapimpi, who scored South Africa’s inaugural World Cup final try against England, lost his sister Zukiswa to a severe headache and his mother Eunice in a car accident. Zolani, his brother, died from electrocution.
The winger only had a picture of himself when the Boks were asked to put pictures of their loved ones on their jersey numbers for the 2019 final. Team manager Rassie Erasmus broke down in tears.
However, from these seemingly hopeless circumstances, South Africa was able to forge a strong relationship and ferocious dedication that helped them become just the second country to win a World Cup—after New Zealand in 2015.
Knowing that you can be with someone who has experienced such tragedy gives you the chills, Wiese added. It is a great honor to be able to refer to them as teammates.
“My background was on a little farm in the Northern Cape, and I attended a school that was too small to have a rugby team. That’s about it. Nothing really unique about my experience.
I never would have imagined that playing rugby would become my full-time job. Take home the World Cup? Not in a millennium. To get me to believe it, you would have needed to really beat it into me.
He believes he would always be appreciative to Leicester Tigers for their role in transforming his game and future chances.
The biggest club in England’s journey from impending relegation to Gallagher Premiership glory in 2022 made him a top target for the Boks.
Will Jordan says candidly of the Springboks that the Rugby World Cup final was “very odd,” adding, “No fluke.”
The primary concern
After boarding, Wiese rapidly realized what unique surroundings he was in.
He clarified, “The most important thing is that you put your own desires behind you.” “You are competing for 60 million people, not for yourself.
“The child in the hamlet who you are performing for may have a dream. You give hope to him or her if they see our narrative. It truly is a privilege.
The World Cup was won by South Africa the hard way. Their defeat to Ireland in the Pool of Death forced them to take the more challenging path during the knockout stages.
In response, they defeated the hosts France by a point in a thrilling quarterfinal match, rallied from behind to defeat underdog England by a point in the semifinals, and defeated the All Blacks by the same margin.
They achieved this by keeping their captain’s remarks, which he made to the world’s media in a small village hall north of Paris just before the England match, fresh in their minds.
Kolisi declared, “Who we play for will never change.” “I hope you could see how much support there is back home. With all that is going on, this is the only topic of conversation.
Because they know that some of us enjoy singing, kids in schools are sending us videos of themselves singing. On Fridays, employees wear green jerseys to work.
“And it’s lovely to see that those who cannot afford them wear something green to support the Springboks.”
“When you consider how many people would give anything to be in our position and how many people lack employment in our nation.
“We won’t win every game, but it would be dishonest if we gave up and didn’t give it our all—not just for the team and me, but also for the fans at home.”
In keeping with Wiese’s assessment from today, he concluded by saying that the Boks were a “purpose-driven squad, not a trophy-driven team.”
