Proteas prepare for WTC final as Shukri Conrad channels his ‘inner Rassie’

As the World Test Championship (WTC) final looms large, Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has revealed the inspiration he has taken from a chat with Springbok mentor Rassie Erasmus.

South Africa will take on Australia in the WTC final at Lord’s in London starting on June 11, with silverware in limited overs ICC events so far eluding the Proteas with one exception back in 1998.

South Africa, however, have lifted the World Test Mace for earning the number one ranking, but have not achieved the equivalent feat since the revised format of the WTC, which ends with a final to declare a champion.

The Springboks, of course, are four-time Rugby World Cup winners. The last two in a row, though, have come with Erasmus at the helm, as he is widely regarded as a rugby and sporting genius.

How a Simple Conversation Inspired the Proteas' Belief

When South Africa were hosting Pakistan in December and January in their final Test series before the WTC, Conrad revealed he had an unexpected visitor at his hotel room door, which turned out to be Erasmus.

Conrad described the conversation to SportsBoom.co.za as: “like unlocking a door to a shared coaching soul.”

“There was no ego. Just two South African coaches around a fire talking about getting the best out of our players. Rassie said something that stuck with me: ‘Create your own reality.’

“And I realised, that’s exactly what we’ve been doing. We didn’t talk tactics. We talked belief. We talked about kids from Lansdowne or Zwide having something worth dreaming about.”

With the final just over three weeks away, it’s chats like these that may prove to be the difference for Conrad and the Proteas.

@Michael_Sherman