The Coach G Show

In this short-form episode, Springbok performance dietician Zeenat Simjee breaks down the truth about performance nutrition for rugby players. She explains why carbs are king, how to fuel during the week, the mistakes players make on intense training days, and why gut tolerance, timing, and recovery matter more than any pre-match meal.

📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec

This is essential listening for young players and coaches who want to prepare like professionals.

Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thecoachgshow

Follow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

Paul Willemse joins me for a deeply personal conversation about identity, sacrifice, belonging and the moment he had to walk away from the game he loved.

Coach G's Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec

He opens up about:

• Choosing France over the Springboks — and the emotional cost

• Living between two nations and two identities

• Public criticism and pressure from both sides

• The mental battle behind repeated concussions

• Being forced into retirement before he was ready

• Losing confidence, rebuilding purpose and finding life after rugby

• What players really struggle with behind the scenes

• Fatherhood, family and redefining himself outside the sport

Chapter: 00:00 Tunnel Dreams & Early Emotions01:40 Split Between Two Nations04:10 France vs Springboks: Inside the Stadium07:25 Singing Both Anthems: Identity & Pride09:54 The Emotional Return to Stade de France13:02 Growing Up Massive: The Weight Story17:34 South African Size: Culture, Genetics & Mindset22:29 Leaving the Bulls & Choosing France31:09 France as a New Home & Early Struggles39:17 First Test for France & Closing the Bok Dream54:27 Concussions, Retirement & Losing Identity1:10:56 Life After Rugby: Purpose, Mental Health & New Projects

If you’re a player, coach, or someone navigating transition, this episode will speak to you.

In this episode, Coach G (Gurthro Steenkamp) breaks down five powerful lessons the Springboks taught us in their performance against France — lessons that every player and coach can apply immediately.

📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec

Drawing from firsthand conversations with players, coaches, and former teammates at Stade de France, we dive into the mindset, decision-making, and on-field behaviours that separated the Boks on the day.

• Why emotion alone won’t win you Test matches

• The Red Card Mindset and how elite teams stay calm with 14 men

• What real team sacrifice looks like (inside Siya Kolisi’s 100th test)

• How the Boks played to their strengths when it mattered most

• The Next Job Mindset that keeps players in the fight after mistakes

This episode was recorded live during a session inside my Coach G Level Up community — where players and coaches join weekly to learn, grow, and sharpen their rugby IQ.

If you’d like to be part of those weekly breakdowns, you can find the link in the description or DM me the word “community” on Instagram.

00:00 Introduction and Community Engagement

01:31 Key Lessons from the Springbok Game

03:44 The Role of Emotion in Performance

06:06 Understanding the Red Card Mindset

08:53 Team Sacrifice and Individual Roles

11:45 Playing to Your Strengths

15:32 Staying in the Fight

18:47 Q&A and Community Interaction

Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromthegamepodcast

Follow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

In this Lessons from the Game episode, Coach G (Gurthro Steenkamp) talks with Steph du Toit (La Rochelle S&C coach) about how to build player trust, manage different personalities, and develop true high-performance habits.

📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec
Steph opens up about lessons learned from Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber, the secrets behind elite conditioning, and how caring, honesty, and participation earn player respect.

Perfect for rugby coaches, players, and performance-driven professionals.

00:00 – The Blueprint for Success
01:09 – Welcome & Episode Setup
05:53 – Stormers’ Winning Recipe
09:00 – What Hasn’t Changed Since 2007
11:15 – Season Planning (Pre/In/Off)
14:06 – Measuring Progress That Matters
16:01 – What “Coachable” Really Means
20:36 – Advice to Coaches: Prep & Ethics
32:18 – Training Without a Gym
36:02 – Scrum-Strong: Key Lifts & Mobility
42:30 – How Much Scrum Time Is Enough?
57:04 – Setbacks & Mindset Reset

Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromthegamepodcast

Follow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

Short-form preview of France vs South Africa with Coach G and French agent Damien Dussault.

📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec

We explore whether this is truly a “revenge” match, how France metabolised the RWC 2023 exit, and why controlled emotion + clear systems will decide it.

Key focus areas: aerial contest, ruck speed, discipline, and set piece—plus players to watch (Ramos, Ntamack, Fickou, Bok back three, Marx & co.).

If you enjoy this pod, follow, rate, and share with a teammate.

Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromthegamepodcast

Follow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

Veteran sports writer Simnikiwe Xabanisa joins Gurthro Steenkamp to reflect on 25 years of South African rugby, the lessons he’s learned from covering the Springboks, and why he believes that “life is a team game.”

📩 Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec

This episode dives deep into the evolution of the Boks, the media’s changing role, and the mindset that defines great teams and great people. It’s a conversation about truth, resilience and connection — on and off the field.

Chapters

Totally—here’s a tighter set (12 chapters) you can paste straight into YouTube/Spotify:

00:00 – Cold open: “Life is a team game”

01:36 – Intro & why Sim’s here

07:17 – SA Rugby’s evolution: 2000s to Rassie

22:16 – How player access & media changed

27:57 – What a rugby journalist really does (context > clicks)

35:26 – Coaching, performance & integrity (scrum “cheat codes”)

44:40 – Why the Boks keep winning: continuity, depth, transformation

56:09 – The rise of Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

58:14 – France vs Springboks: rivalry, emotion, stakes

01:06:51 – Habits behind a 25-year journalism career

01:14:22 – Setback to comeback: Sim’s toughest years

01:28:06 – Closing thoughts & what’s next

Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromthegamepodcastFollow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

In this episode, Andrew Trimble shares what it took for Ireland to finally beat the All Blacks in Chicago 2016.

📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec

From the belief built under Joe Schmidt to the leadership of Sexton & Rory Best, Trimble opens up about the preparation, pressure, and defining moments that changed Irish rugby forever.

A must-listen for rugby fans and players ahead of another epic Ireland-All Blacks clash.

Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromthegamepodcast

Follow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

All Blacks legend Conrad Smith breaks down the habits behind sustained success: shared leadership, role clarity, reading the game, and handling World Cup pressure. He also opens up about life after rugby and his work supporting player welfare and purpose. Essential listening for players, coaches, and anyone who leads teams.

📩 Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec

Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromthegamepodcast

Follow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

South African rugby trailblazer Babalwa Latsha reveals how she approaches the scrum as a mind game, not just a battle of strength.

📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec

📩  Join Coach Ben’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/bens-group-3618/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec

📩  Join Lessons From The Game  Community - https://www.skool.com/lessons-from-the-game-7496/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec

She dives into:
• The mindset and technique behind women’s rugby• How role models like Beast Mtawarira and Serena Williams shaped her• The mental toughness it takes to recover from injury and stay grounded in purpose.

Hosted by Coach Gurthro Steenkamp and Ben Pegna on Lessons From The Game.

Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromthegamepodcast

Follow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

Follow Ben on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/benpegna

Charlie Hodgson, one of England’s most respected fly-halves, joins Lessons from the Game to share the mindset that shaped his rugby journey — from moments of pressure and injury to personal growth and success beyond the field.

📲 Follow us for more rugby content:

📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec

📩  Join Coach Ben’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/bens-group-3618/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec

📩  Join Lessons From The Game  Community - https://www.skool.com/lessons-from-the-game-7496/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec

In this honest and insightful conversation with Gurthro Steenkamp and Ben Pegna, Charlie opens up about:

• The power of reflection and reframing setbacks into growth

• Managing performance anxiety and pressure in elite rugby

• The “Effort Error vs Skill Error” philosophy that built accountability and trust at Saracens

• Finding identity and purpose after professional rugby

• How mindset and self-awareness can redefine success in sport and life

A masterclass in resilience, perspective, and personal evolution from one of rugby’s most thoughtful playmakers.

🎙️ Hosted by Gurthro Steenkamp & Ben Pegna — Lessons from the Game