Lessons from a rugby match for the global economy

winning every World Cup final in which it has appeared.

All of that not only places South Africa among rugby’s elite nations, it also gives the country a golden opportunity to unite to address deep and growing economic, financial and social challenges. Moreover, the country’s victory not only inspires us, it provides an important lesson about succeeding in conditions of potential adversity.

South Africa went into the final in Japan as underdogs against an England team that shone in the semi-finals against the legendary New Zealand All Blacks. Understanding the enormous challenge it faced, the team adjusted its approach and did so successfully.

The ability to adjust to beat a stronger opponent was also evident when South Africa won its first World Cup in 1995 against New Zealand.

The victory provides the country with the opportunity for an important and timely unifier to confront serious and deepening problems of poverty, marginalisation and potential financial instability.

Inspiring moment

This inspiring moment in sports also carries important lessons for governments, companies and households dealing with realities that, only a few years ago, would have been deemed unthinkable: $15 trillion of negative-yielding bonds, QE infinity in Europe, the transformation of the US from into a supporter of protectionism.

It shows how resilience, optionality and agility can help successfully navigate a worrisome and cloudy outlook. This is the combination that economic entities need to navigate today’s uncertain world:

A growing number of countries, companies and individuals risk being turned into underdogs by developments they cannot control in the global economy. To win in such an environment, they need to go well beyond their usual game plan to better understand the changed circumstances, develop greater flexibility to respond and bounce boldly on the opportunities that arise.

In doing so, they will be deploying the trifecta of resilience, optionality and agility that South Africa demonstrated is so crucial for winning.