What happens when elite sport ends, the cheering stops, and life asks you to start again?
In this episode of Winning The Away Game, we sit down with Springbok and Bulls legend Wynand Olivier and veteran journalist Robyn Curnow for a powerful, honest conversation about identity, reinvention, and what it really means to begin again.
We talk about the emotional reality of leaving professional rugby, moving countries, and returning home to a version of life that has moved on without you. Wynand opens up about the shock of retirement, building a business from scratch, and why coming back to South Africa was harder than moving to Japan, France, or England. Robyn shares her journey through global journalism, covering defining moments in South Africa’s history, and what it’s like to rebuild a sense of belonging after more than a decade abroad.
This is a conversation about grief, growth, masculinity, motherhood, legacy, and the quiet courage it takes to adapt when your old identity no longer fits.
If you’ve ever felt displaced, underestimated, or unsure of who you are after a big chapter ends, this episode is for you.
00:00 – Welcome to Winning The Away Game
02:10 – Introducing Wynand Olivier and Robyn
03:05 – Favourite Springbok Memories & National Pride
05:00 – The 2007 Super Rugby Final That Changed Everything
07:10 – Growing Up With Rugby and Knowing This Was the Path
10:30 – What Springbok Success Meant to South Africans
14:20 – Playing Under Pressure in Front of 80,000 People
18:40 – The Golden Era of the Bulls Explained
20:15 – The Decision to Leave South Africa and Go Overseas
24:30 – Landing in Japan Alone and Learning to Adapt
28:40 – From France to England: Life Abroad as a Pro Player
33:40 – Journalism, Nation Building, and Telling South Africa’s Story
37:00 – Covering History: Mandela, Global Leaders, and Hard Truths
41:30 – When Careers End and Identity Shifts
46:10 – Coming Home vs Staying Away
51:00 – Raising Children Across Countries and Cultures
56:40 – Why South Africans Adapt So Well Globally
1:01:10 – Stepping Away From Careers That No Longer Serve You
1:05:50 – Detoxing From Noise, Media, and Modern Life
1:08:30 – Where Will We Watch the 2027 World Cup?
1:11:30 – Defining Legacy Beyond Titles and Careers
1:15:40 – Advice to Our Children and Future Selves
1:20:00 – Final Reflections on Winning the Away Game
Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9Ih6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716
Listen on Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/id1853818584
Check out Robyn's podcast, Searching For America, at: https://www.youtube.com/@therobyncurnow
Or subscribe to her Substack at: https://robyncurnow.substack.com/
Connect with Justinus:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/
Connect with Flip:https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipvandermerwe/
Check out our other channels:
Website: https://wtagpodcast.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-the-away-game-podcast/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtag_podcast/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wtag_podcast
Winning The Away Game is produced by Jonathan Warncke
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E%99-jonathan-warncke-45b2095/
Ping Productions: https://www.pingproductions.net/
