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The desire to win must be stronger than the fear to loseTiaan Strauss grabs the bull by the horns
A dual international who captained the Springboks and boasts a World Cup-winning medal for Australia, a self-confessed adrenalin junkie who loves surfing, flying and golf, a man whose encounters with red hartebeest in the Kalahari are the stuff of legends – Tiaan Strauss knows everything about adventure. And he has now jumped head first into a new venture.
There may be moments in which the man, who represented Western Province in 156 games over 10 seasons, would be feeling as if he were ‘sleeping with the enemy’. He is constantly dealing with erstwhile opponents as the new general manager of Megapro.
Megapro represents several provincial rugby unions, namely the Cheetahs, Golden Lions, Blue Bulls; all the smaller unions such as the Leopards, South Western Districts, Border, Griqualand West; and, of course, Strauss’ former home, Western Province.
As a vital addition to the Megapro team, Strauss will be managing all the company’s rugby rights-holder services and assisting the unions in maximising commercial opportunities.
In his new role, Strauss will be liaising with the South African Rugby Union on numerous levels. Strauss’ background places him in a strong position to advise on new rugby opportunities and competition structures.
“I am looking forward to the challenge of working at Megapro, in the sport sponsorship and advertising industry,” said Strauss.
“There are many great sporting events coming to us over the next few years and it is a real privilege to be given the opportunity to be a part of this exciting chapter. Sport has been good for me over the years and I am pleased that I can make a contribution from the commercial side.”
Up close and personal with a red hartebeest
Strauss began his new job with a nick just above his right eyebrow, courtesy of an encounter with a red hartebeest that protested in the strongest possible terms when the former Springbok number 8 tried to jump on his back.
“It happened at the end of May in the Kalahari. We tried to catch a few hartebeest for a farm from one of our neighbouring farms. We caught a few, but this one did not go into the net.
“I jumped off the vehicle to tackle him, and he flicked his head. It caught me above the eyes and split me open,” reminisced Strauss about his encounter with the irate animal.
Maybe the ‘grab the bull by the horns’ technique would be quite useful in his new job.
Strauss is charged with overseeing harmonious relations between SA Rugby, its sponsors and its rights holders.
Provincialism and internal politics have marred the image of South African rugby for very long and, at times, has stifled the progress of the international team.
Strauss acknowledged that provincialism and a dog-fight for survival between provinces might have grabbed the headlines in a previous dispensation, but this has been diluted largely because of South Africa’s reintroduction into the international fold and the re-emergence of the tests between the Springboks and
other countries.
Previously, as he recalled in an interview with the Sunday Times, he was frustrated as a player because there was not enough communication to all the related parties. “We need to set up a system of clear communication where everyone’s needs are taken into consideration.
“A lot of the provincial guys made decisions based on their own needs. I’d like to see us work together to make the Springboks the most important thing when we make decisions.
“Ultimately, they must be the number-one brand to the outside world, something the All Blacks do well,” he said. (Source: Sunday Times, 7 June 2009)
“The Springboks and the results of the Boks is the most important thing for SA rugby. But one must also remember that each provincial union is geared towards its own survival,”
he added.
Preparation for his new challenge
Strauss’ academic background, cultural exposures and professional experiences have prepared him well for his new challenge.
A product of the University of Stellenbosch, where he finished his BCom with a Law degree in 1989, Strauss worked as a lawyer in Cape Town for four years.
From 1992, he became an accidental tourist while representing the Springboks in 15 tests, 12 as an eighth man while on tours to England, France, Australia and New Zealand.
He singled out his debut against France in Lyon and the win against a strong Wallaby-outfit in the first test in Sydney as the two undoubted highlights of his Springbok career.
When Strauss left South Africa, it was as a slightly disgruntled and disappointed man. He was South Africa’s Player of the Year in 1992 and short-listed for the same accolade a year later. He was still an integral part of the national team in 1994.
But in 1995, on the eve of the Rugby World Cup, he was completely left out of the squad.
“It was a disappointment not to be part of the squad. It was not as much for not being made captain or not featuring in the starting team, but for being left out of the squad altogether,” he explained.
Joining the Waratahs and the Wallabies
When Strauss left the country of his birth in 1996, he spent two years playing rugby league for the Cronulla Sharks in Sydney.
He then represented the New South Wales Waratahs in 42 games after a deal to represent Western Province, again, failed
to materialise.
Finally, in 1999, Strauss represented the Wallabies in 11 tests.
His career for the Australians began with a hat trick of tries and some barn-storming runs against Ireland.
He played for the Australians at the Rugby World Cup and went onto the hallowed turf in the quarterfinal against Wales at Cardiff.
Strauss did not feature in the group of 22 for the Rugby World Cup final, as the Wallabies decided to opt for length at the back of the line-out against the French team.
“The build-up to playing the Boks was quite emotional,” he told the Sunday Times. “The coach said I’d better learn the national anthem because the camera would be on me. I ended up singing both anthems.
“Winning the 1995 World Cup would have been first prize, but 1999 made up for the disappointment.” (Source: Sunday Times,
7 June 2009)
“I was privileged throughout my career to play alongside some of the best players in the world. The Australians fielded a very strong team in 1999.
“But during the early part of my career, I was part of a WP team that had some truly superb players,” he told Leadership.
Strauss made his debut for the beloved Streeptruie as a 20-year old in 1986, a year in which the team won the Currie Cup for a fifth consecutive season. It was a team that featured superb Springboks such as Carel and Michael du Plessis, Neil Hugo, Gert Smal as well as Faffa Knoetze.
Slightly surprising, Strauss did not begin his rugby career as a forward but as a backline star for his school and province, and featured as a centre and flyhalf at the Craven Week in his grade 11 and grade 12 years.
Moulded by Dr Danie Craven into a number 8 at the Wilgenhof residence, Strauss became a household name in the Western Province team and his strong work ethic and bullocking runs earned him praise and recognition in South African rugby.
He was short-listed as the SA Young Player of the Year in 1986.
During his Australian sojourn, Strauss began a wine commercial enterprise in 1999 which involved importing wine from South Africa and exporting it to Australia, New Zealand and Kuala Lumpur.
He has been flying the flag for South Africa’s finest wines in different international cities for 10 years now.
After retiring from his beloved rugby in 2000, Strauss took up the post as manager of a wholesale mortgage provider that competed with the banks to supply wholesale finance to brokers.
“I think the most important thing I learned from these work experiences, was to provide excellent client relationships,” said Strauss.
Mottos, the great outdoors and
South African humour
The fearless 44-year old has never been one to shy away from challenges.
When he participated in the Cape Epic in 2008, a physically and mentally draining challenge in extreme long-distance adventure, he had to do between 10 and 14 hours of riding per week in training, as well as regular upper body exercises to prepare physically for the gruelling ultramarathon.
His motto has always been: “The desire to win must be stronger than the fear to lose,” and he has the opportunity to put his motto to the test in the new venture at Megapro’s office in Cape Town.
Strauss said honesty, integrity and trust as well as fearless determination are the cornerstones of business success.
He believed the good contacts and good friends he made in Australia have prepared him well for the challenges that lie ahead.
While Strauss loves the Great Outback and thoroughly enjoyed the Australian experience, nothing gives him greater satisfaction than spending time with his family in Stellenbosch, a mere stone’s throw from his father-in-law’s farm, Swart River, outside the town.
Being with his family and his close Stellenbosch friends might have ‘forced’ Strauss’ hand to return to South Africa.
Asked why he decided to move back after many happy years in Australia with his wife, Flolinda, and their three daughters – Liani, Rosanne and Amé – the former Springbok said: “I really missed the South African people.
“The people in Australia are similar to South Africans. They love the outdoors like us. But they did not understand my sense of humour, and they never laughed at my jokes.”
Learning from the Australian champions on and off the field
“I think what I learned from Rod MacQueen as an Australian World Cup-winning coach, was his ability to get the best out of each player. He was an extremely good strategist and his inputs were vital in the success of the Wallabies,” said Strauss.
The Australian way, Strauss would acknowledge, is not necessarily the best way, but they did treasure their players and spent hours upon hours and weeks upon weeks on improving skills levels.
“We (in South Africa) probably don’t do enough in that regard. We have a lot of players.
“If players don’t perform, they get thrown away sometimes.
“The other thing is the co-operation between all the unions. That unity is something that is particularly strong in Australia and New Zealand,” he added.
“Everybody needs to work together to make SA rugby a stronger entity. We need to do things in the best interest of SA rugby.” ▲
