Two people who had survived intense pressure and tasted
success last year were Graham Henry and Richie McCaw. As respective coach and
captain of the All Blacks they were tasked with bringing home the Rugby World
Cup silverware and a nation of five million supporters weren’t going to accept
anything less.
Success in sport can often hinge on how much a team wants to win and in high stakes situations mental toughness can play a crucial role.
Success in sport can often hinge on how much a team wants to win and in high stakes situations mental toughness can play a crucial role.
Henry believes that his eight years coaching the All Blacks
proved mentally tougher for his family than for him. "They go through more
difficult times than you, because they have no control over it, and you have.
You're at the coalface, doing the job, and it dissipates the pressure; you are
so involved in the process you don't worry too much about the result.”
Henry is now passing on his knowledge to other sporting
teams as a “mentor”. He’s involved with Super 15 rugby team the Blues,
Argentina’s national rugby team the Pumas, and Sport New Zealand’s emerging
coaches from disciplines such as yachting and cycling.
In a recent interview, Richie McCaw opened up about the sort
of pressure he is under as All
Blacks captain. “There is always pressure going into any match, I have accepted
that. Everyone expects the All Blacks to win every time they go on the field.
If you try and say there is no pressure you are kidding yourself. I try to put
it aside and just be excited by the opportunity.”
He goes on to say that being the best player he can be is
key to supporting his team. Walking the
talk and leading by example are traits of role model Todd Blackadder
(former All Black), which Richie hopes to emulate.
Psyching yourself up is a particularly effective mental
toughness tool and we all do it before a big occasion because it helps to give
us courage or the “edge”. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the world’s most
successful rugby team, the All Blacks, also have the most elaborate mental warm
up – the Haka!
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