Shift

Chapter 5Row the Boat in Time: Creating empowered and aligned teams to achieve progress

“Alone we can do so little; together, we can do so much.”

– Helen Keller

We're jumping back to May 1997. The British Lions rugby squad has touched down in South Africa for its first rugby tour there since the end of apartheid. The media and pundits (both in the UK and South Africa) are viewing the three-match tour as largely symbolic. South Africa are the firm favourites to win, with the British Lions considered significant underdogs.

The first test is played at Newlands and, much to the surprise of the home crowd, the Lions win 25–16. The second test is set for Durban and, despite the upset of the first match, the home crowd is still expecting the Springboks to emerge victorious. There's a roar as the teams step onto the pitch and the match kicks off.

However, with the scores level at 15–15, the home crowd is getting quieter. It watches in disbelief as Jerry Guscot kicks a drop goal to nudge the Lions to an 18–15 lead. As the minutes tick down, and South Africa launches a furious attack on the Lions' try line, there's great anticipation in the stadium. However, the Lions team pulls together, closes ranks, and somehow manages to prevent any of the South African players from breaking through.

The 80-minute mark passes, the ball bounces into touch, and the Lions have, against all expectations, won the series. The final match of the tour allows South Africa to salvage some pride, but despite ...