When a viral photo of the Springboks' chiselled physiques surfaced ahead of the 2019 World Cup, it wasn't just muscles that got flexed—eyebrows did too, leading to baseless doping speculations. Now, three of the team's front-rowers, Steven Kitshoff, Bongi Mbonambi, and Trevor Nyakane, have finally lifted the lid on the grueling camp that led to that infamous snapshot.
The training, orchestrated by then strength and conditioning coach Aled Walters, was nothing short of brutal. Kitshoff spilled the details on the 'For the Love of Rugby SA' podcast, saying,
“Something about 2019 that no one actually talks about is how tough that pre-season was with Aled Walters. Boys were losing three or four kilos a day!”
This wasn't just physical training; it was a battle against their own limits.
Mbonambi echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the intensity of the preparations,
“2019 was special and as you said, pre-season was absolutely madness. It was brutal.”
Even Nyakane chimed in with a lighter note, boasting, “Boys had six packs in the front-row!”
The punishing regime meant that recovery was as intense as the workouts themselves. “The boys spent more time in ice baths than they did on the field,” Kitshoff reminisced with a chuckle. Nyakane highlighted the necessity of those chilling moments, “They didn’t even have to ask us to get into the ice baths. We ran into the ice bath because you’re burning out. You’ve lost a couple of kilograms just from training, and you are dehydrated.”
Despite the external noise, the picture became an emblem of dedication within the squad. Mbonambi proudly stated, “Remember the photo we took in the gym? That’s an elite photo. That was pure hard work.” He also mentioned the camp's deeper purpose, designed to test not just their bodies but their spirits. “I think Aled was trying to break a few guys there … They were trying to see who was going to break, who was going to give up. And no one did.”
This shared ordeal not only sculpted their bodies but also their team spirit, which was crucial to their success. “What Rassie [Erasmus], Jacques [Nienaber], and the whole coaching staff did is that they would challenge you,” explained Mbonambi. “We were win-obsessed.” Nyakane added, “And that’s how you build that culture.” This hardened, close-knit team culture was instrumental as the Springboks marched to World Cup victory months later.
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When a viral photo of the Springboks' chiselled physiques surfaced ahead of the 2019 World Cup, it wasn't just muscles that got flexed—eyebrows did too, leading to baseless doping speculations. Now, three of the team's front-rowers, Steven Kitshoff, Bongi Mbonambi, and Trevor Nyakane, have finally lifted the lid on the grueling camp that led to that infamous snapshot.
The training, orchestrated by then strength and conditioning coach Aled Walters, was nothing short of brutal. Kitshoff spilled the details on the 'For the Love of Rugby SA' podcast, saying,
“Something about 2019 that no one actually talks about is how tough that pre-season was with Aled Walters. Boys were losing three or four kilos a day!”
This wasn't just physical training; it was a battle against their own limits.Mbonambi echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the intensity of the preparations,
“2019 was special and as you said, pre-season was absolutely madness. It was brutal.”
Even Nyakane chimed in with a lighter note, boasting, “Boys had six packs in the front-row!”The punishing regime meant that recovery was as intense as the workouts themselves. “The boys spent more time in ice baths than they did on the field,” Kitshoff reminisced with a chuckle. Nyakane highlighted the necessity of those chilling moments, “They didn’t even have to ask us to get into the ice baths. We ran into the ice bath because you’re burning out. You’ve lost a couple of kilograms just from training, and you are dehydrated.”
Despite the external noise, the picture became an emblem of dedication within the squad. Mbonambi proudly stated, “Remember the photo we took in the gym? That’s an elite photo. That was pure hard work.” He also mentioned the camp's deeper purpose, designed to test not just their bodies but their spirits. “I think Aled was trying to break a few guys there … They were trying to see who was going to break, who was going to give up. And no one did.”
This shared ordeal not only sculpted their bodies but also their team spirit, which was crucial to their success. “What Rassie [Erasmus], Jacques [Nienaber], and the whole coaching staff did is that they would challenge you,” explained Mbonambi. “We were win-obsessed.” Nyakane added, “And that’s how you build that culture.” This hardened, close-knit team culture was instrumental as the Springboks marched to World Cup victory months later.