"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships." NBA Legend Michael Jordan
Success on the rugby field doesn't just happen. Individuals have to strive to be the best they can be. A championship is not ever won by one individual player but by a group of players who share a common goal. Each team member has an individual and unique role that sets them apart from one another but the team goes a long way to being successful only if everyone does their job well AND works together as a unit.
The New Zealand All Blacks boast one of the strongest team-based cultures in world sport; they have for a number of years, and the legacy and tradition that surrounds their black jersey, as described by my fellow ESPN columnist Craig Dowd, is incredible. This tradition of that black jersey has been created over a number of years, and you can tell whenever the All Blacks take to the field that they all believe in one goal and will do anything for one another in order to achieve success. They are the most successful rugby nation ever, and I think you can see why in the pride, honour and emotion in the players' eyes when they take to the field and perform the haka; it is evident they will do everything in their power to uphold the legacy and put in a good performance in the black jersey to make their nation proud.
Australia's performance against Wales, I believe, was a positive step forward for the Wallabies in their quest to find that inner trust and fight among their team-mates. The teams were both guaranteed a quarterfinals appearance but still they were fighting for top spot and the right to avoid South Africa, and you knew, as a spectator, from the first tackle of the game that this was going to be one hell of a match.
And the Wallabies' ability to play for eight minutes with only 13 players on the field, holding out Wales as the Dragons pressed their line for that period of time, will have provided a massive boost to the Aussies' belief, confidence and trust in one another. Everyone put their bodies on the line, holding up Wales two or three times when the Welsh could easily have crossed to take the lead. This was a significant test of character for the Australia boys, and to their credit they stuck side by side and formed a brick wall that Wales could not break. I do believe this defensive effort was one of the best we have seen by a Wallabies team in a critical game. Each individual took it upon themselves to stand firm for their team-mates, and that will undoubtedly build morale and give them confidence leading into their quarterfinal against Scotland this weekend (and hopefully beyond).
Trust is a significant part to a team's success: if you simply do not trust the person next to you in the defensive line, I guarantee that you will make the wrong decision; you need just 1% of doubt within yourself or your team-mate and you won't be successful. When the going gets tough on the rugby field, and the wheels are starting to fall off, you simply must trust yourself and your team-mates if you are to get things going back in the right direction. In these hard grinding times you have to believe and trust in the structures your coaching staff have given you, as well as your individual and team-mate's abilities. For a team to fall apart, for the team to fail, you need only one person to have that sense of doubt and lack of trust in the policies.
Inner-belief and the will to fight help to create a positive team environment; the inner-belief to fight for one another to achieve a common goal helps to build and unite a team. But the desire to want to fight for your team mates till the death is not something that not every team has; it is similar to mental toughness in that some athletes have it and others don't. I think Australia found that desire and that mental toughness with their defensive effort against Wales on the weekend. The ability of the team to fight together, and the belief in their team-mates' abilities, was a true illustration of their character.
Scotland, meanwhile, just fought and fought until the very end against Samoa; they were simply more driven and determined to come away with the win that secured their quarterfinal berth. And that notion of not taking a backward step is a massive part of the rugby defensive line, as you are always trying to stop the opposition from gaining the advantage line. And the inner-belief and fight of a team are built on the back of positive team performances and the fundamental of sharing one common goal.
When a team is placed under immense pressure, it is imperative for the leaders to step up and carry some of the extra load. Pressure times within a game can either make or break a team. This is when the best team leaders take charge and call the shots in the best interests of the unit.
We have seen over the past few weekends that key players have come up with game-changing plays when their teams have been under pressure. Wallabies fans will think of Adam Ashley-Cooper's tackle to effect a crucial turnover penalty when Australia were under immense pressure from the continued attacking force of Wales; that penalty relieved that pressure by allowing and exit to a lineout at halfway, and Sam Bruce and Brett McKay were right when they said in the Scrum5 podcast that it was the defining play of the game.
Pressure comes and goes on the rugby field, and it's hard to relieve if you get bogged down. As a captain your mindset doesn't really change whether you are or aren't under pressure; you are always backing your team's ability, and you are always thinking about putting your team in the best possible position to win the game. And that's why you love to have players like Adam Ashley-Cooper on your side, because they have proven ability to change the game at a critical time of play and create a momentum shift in your favour.