The Coach G Show

What actually makes a great defensive team in rugby?https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/aboutIn this short-form episode of The Coach G Show, Omar Mouneimne breaks down the core fundamentals of defense and why so many coaches get it wrong by focusing on systems before physicality.This episode is packed with practical insight for coaches, players, and anyone who wants to understand how great defenses are built.You’ll learn:Why you must choose a clear defensive identityThe difference between soft drift, press and check, blitz, and sonic blitzWhy physicality is the base of every strong defenseHow conditioning shapes your ability to defend for 80 minutesWhy technical detail comes before tactical adjustmentsWhy many blitz systems fail in matchesHow to manage fatigue and stay connected defensively00:00 Why most coaches get defense wrong00:29 Choose your defensive style first02:09 Why physicality is the real base04:42 Technical before tactical05:48 Coach G reacts to the physicality point07:37 Soft drift vs press vs blitz vs sonic blitz09:59 Why teams chase fake space11:32 What to do when fatigue hitsFollow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thecoachgshowFollow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkampListen, follow, and share this episode with a coach or player who wants to understand rugby defense at a deeper level.

Eddie Jones doesn’t sugarcoat coaching.In this episode of The Coach G Show, Eddie Jones breaks down what it really takes to coach under pressure, handle player power, and build winning culture in modern rugby—drawing on 2007 Springboks memories, Japan’s 2015 upset, and decades at the top level.📩 Join Coach G’s Free Community -https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708You’ll learn:The ABC rule every coach should live byHow to balance long-term vision with short-term resultsWhy “players aren’t your friends” (and what they actually need)How to handle bad habits and “false professionalism”Why identity matters more than ever for the new generationHow to run meetings that players actually rememberWhat Japan did to beat the Springboks in 2015How elite coaches reset after heartbreakChapters00:00 Coaching pressure: survive + win short-term01:41 Intro: Eddie Jones joins Coach G02:42 2007 Springboks World Cup: what really mattered06:20 ABC coaching: confirm learning07:45 How rugby changed: power game + ball-in-play reality11:20 France, Dupont, Ramos + the evolving attack game14:04 “Know your DNA”: prioritising what wins18:48 Building teams under public pressure23:07 Player power: Saracens story + setting parameters26:15 Why players aren’t your friends (and what to be instead)29:57 Fixing bad habits: isolate the ringleader33:14 New generation culture: identity first37:15 Getting players to talk (without fear of “dislikes”)40:36 Better meetings: hooks, 3 points, check understanding42:32 Japan vs Springboks 2015: the preparation & belief48:28 Coping with finals and big disappointments51:30 Championship hangover: leadership and complacency53:44 Coach performance habits: routine + growth planIf this helped you, follow the podcast, share it with a coach or player, and listen again with a notebook.

Top 14 isn’t just “more games” — it’s a system. In this episode, Coach G sits down with Damien Dussault to break down what’s actually happening in French rugby right now: squad rules, salary cap strategy, academy production, and why coaching in France can be mentally brutal.📩 Join Coach G’s Free Community -https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708You’ll learn:Why 19 France players get “protected” on bye weeksHow clubs use Espoirs to survive the Top 14 grindThe salary cap incentives (and the coming changes)How academy rankings drive funding + developmentWhy tighthead depth is a real issue for FranceWhat Pierre Mignoni’s break tells us about coaching pressureThe key games to watch this weekend in the tableChapters:00:00 Intro + Top 14 weekend preview01:24 The “19 protected players” rule (Six Nations bye week)02:29 Why France produces so many young talents04:56 How Top 14 squads are built (pro/Espoir/convention)12:48 Salary cap credits + academy ranking explained18:14 France vs South Africa depth + development pathways20:06 France lock combos (Flament/Meafou vs Ollivon/Guillard)24:08 French scrum criticism + tighthead depth debate29:20 Pierre Mignoni steps back + coaching pressure40:56 Table overview + key matchups to watch44:46 Bayonne coaching change + staff cohesion reality49:16 USN sponsor shout + subscribe reminderFollow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thecoachgshowFollow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkampIf this helped, follow the show and share it with a rugby mate.

From Paarl to Loftus to the Springboks — Canan Moodie shares the real story behind the rise.📩 Join Coach G’s Free Community -https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708Recorded at Loftus Versfeld, this conversation goes beyond highlights. Canan opens up about pressure, identity, preparation, and the people who kept him grounded while life accelerated fast.In this episode, you’ll hear:How 2019 lit the World Cup dream… and 2023 made it realWhat facing the Haka at Twickenham felt likeThe Springbok call-up that changed everythingGrowing up around drugs and gangsterism — and choosing a different pathThe role his brother and coaches played in his disciplineHis approach to criticism (and why he avoids it entirely)The mindset shift after being left behind before the World CupChapters:00:00 Facing the Haka + Twickenham nerves01:16 Welcome at Loftus + what this episode is about03:19 2019 to 2023: “that’s what dreams are made of”05:03 The Springbok call-up moment07:10 Test debut + Fran Steyn’s words09:33 Growing up in Amstelhof, Paarl11:55 Drugs, gangsterism, and choosing a different path14:17 The brother who kept him grounded16:51 The teacher who helped change his life22:54 What it means to play for the Bulls24:51 COVID year, earning the chance, taking it28:02 Centre vs All Blacks: prep, detail, confidence32:26 The foundation: giving kids a platform36:01 Learning habits from Sia, Jesse and the leaders40:17 His pre-match routine (massage, haircut, chicken alfredo)43:42 The setback before the World Cup + the comeback47:45 Pressure management: ignore noise, stay prepared49:15 Bulls stories and culture passed downFollow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thecoachgshowFollow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkampFollow The Coach G Show on Spotify, share this with a teammate, and keep building your edge.

Springbok Women legend Babalwa Latsha sits down with Coach G after the Rugby World Cup to share the mindset behind the Springbok Women’s breakthrough.📩 Join Coach G’s Free Community-https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708Inside the episode:Mental fortitude: how to block out noise and perform under pressureIdentity & self-worth: separating who you are from what you doBecoming a student of the game (simple habits that compound)Front row culture: scrum pride, set-piece dominance, doing it the right wayHandling social media bullying + staying true to your values00:00 Intro01:10 World Cup + what’s next09:01 Student of the game13:22 Handling pressure + noise15:51 Self-worth & identity24:22 Breakthrough moment32:01 Innovation + trust38:20 Scrum identity + set-piece47:02 Coming home1:00:58 Social media bullying & resilience1:09:49 OutroFollow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thecoachgshowFollow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

France vs Ireland: a big win — but what are people actually saying in France? https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/aboutCoach G sits down with Damien Dussault to translate the French rugby conversation into English: the Jalibert–Dupont–Ramos combo, France’s offload/unstructured identity, standout performers (Guillard, Nouchi, Serin), and the real pressure behind the scenes: Top 14 load + player recovery during the doublon. Plus… the ultimate debate: French meat vs South African meat.

Former Springbok tighthead and 2007 Rugby World Cup winner BJ Botha joins Coach G for a raw, honest conversation about scrummaging, resilience, and what separates great front rowers from the rest.BJ breaks down how pressure training builds confidence, why “dark arts” exist in modern scrums, and the real reason the Springbok scrum stays dominant (hint: combinations and culture). We also go beyond rugby — injury setbacks, moving abroad (Ulster/Munster), fatherhood, and the mindset needed to keep showing up.

The Top 14 table doesn’t tell the full story — especially when le doublon hits and clubs lose key internationals during the Six Nations window.📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community -https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708Coach G breaks down the current “giants” of French rugby and what’s really driving performance: squad depth, academy pathways, mindset, and how clubs approach home vs away rugby. Toulouse remain the benchmark, Pau and Stade Français are rising fast, and Bordeaux face the brutal challenge of balancing Top 14 pressure with European ambitions.

Fabien Galthié shocks French rugby by leaving out Gaël Fickou, Grégory Alldritt, and Damien Penaud before the Six Nations. Coach G is joined by agent Damien Dussault to unpack the decision through the lens of selection strategy, squad culture, and long-term World Cup planning—then flips it into the most important piece: how elite players respond when they don’t get picked.Expect a real conversation on standards, leadership, pressure, and turning non-selection into fuel.

Modern attack is faster, looser, and more chaotic than ever — and defenses are paying the price. Omar explains how teams can stop the offload chain, kill speed of ball, and why “trench warfare” has returned in elite rugby.📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community -https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708

Premiership-winning Harlequins prop Simon Kerrod joins Coach G (Gurthro Steenkamp) for an honest conversation about the real pathway to becoming an elite prop: injuries, setbacks, late breakthroughs, ego management, and staying mentally strong when pressure never disappears.📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaecThey unpack what modern props must master (scrum, collisions, systems), why young front rowers spiral after one bad scrum, and how to reset fast and perform again. Simon also shares lessons from working with Adam Jones, playing alongside Joe Marler, and how he’s thinking about life after rugby.

Why do elite coaches get fired — even when they’re highly respected and successful?📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaecIn this episode, Coach G breaks down the deeper reasons behind coaching dismissals, using the Scott Robertson case as a starting point — not for drama, but for understanding.This is a conversation about:Culture vs resultsAlignment between staff, players, and leadershipUnrealistic standards and KPIsWhat happens when a coach loses the locker roomWhy some dynasties last — and others collapseThis episode isn’t about one coach.It’s about high-performance environments, leadership under pressure, and the mistakes that quietly destroy teams from the inside.Whether you’re a coach, player, leader, or operator in any high-performance field, the lessons here apply far beyond rugby.00:00 Introduction to Scott Robinson's Firing01:44 Understanding Performance Standards03:56 Defining Success for the All Blacks05:51 The Concept of Losing the Locker Room09:40 Cultural Dynamics in Rugby Teams11:39 Addressing Deeper Issues in New Zealand Rugby14:15 The Pressure of Coaching at the Highest Level17:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of The Coach G Show, Coach G speaks with Sean Erasmus, 1st Team Rugby Coach at Paarl Boys High, about the deeper foundations behind elite schoolboy rugby in South Africa.https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaecBuilt on the motto Faith. Family. Team., this conversation explores culture, pressure, belief, leadership, and what it truly takes to develop young men — not just rugby players — in today’s pro-level school rugby environment.A powerful episode for players, parents, coaches, and anyone passionate about performance, values, and long-term development through sport.Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thecoachgshowFollow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

Why does France dominate European rugby?📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaecIn this short-form episode, Coach G breaks down the brutal reality of the Top 14, the value French clubs place on the Champions Cup, and why squad depth and academy systems give France a massive edge over the rest of Europe.From Bordeaux’s explosive performance to the sacrifices clubs are willing to make domestically, this episode explains what it really takes to win in Europe — from the inside.Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thecoachgshowFollow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

Elite coaching is not glamorous — it’s pressure, standards, trust, and the ability to lead humans, not just rugby players.📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaecCoach G sits down with Neal Hatley (England, Australia, Japan) for a deep conversation on what it takes to survive and thrive as a professional coach. Neal breaks down how top coaches build trust, manage information overload, keep standards high, and why alignment inside a staff can make or break a team — with powerful insights from working alongside Eddie Jones across multiple international environments.Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thecoachgshowFollow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

Owen Franks reflects on missing selection for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the emotional impact it had after a long All Blacks career.📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaecIn this short episode, Owen shares why the disappointment hit differently, how he coped by immediately moving on, and why — in hindsight — allowing himself to grieve may have been the healthier choice.An honest conversation about identity, resilience, and the unseen side of elite rugby.Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thecoachgshowFollow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

This episode is my 2025 wrap-up. No guest — just 7 core lessons I’ve taken from the biggest conversations of the year, plus 5 personal learnings that shaped my growth.7 Core LessonsResilience is built, not discoveredIdentity comes before performanceElite teams are built on trust + shared ownershipProcess beats outcomeGrowth requires humilityTransition matters as much as careersPressure is a privilegeChapters00:00 Building Resilience Through Adversity08:06 The Importance of Identity in Performance17:19 Trust and Shared Ownership in Elite Teams25:57 The Role of Humility in Growth26:23 The Importance of Humility in Growth27:48 Navigating Career Transitions30:40 Building Relationships and Skills as a Rugby Player32:08 Embracing Pressure as a Privilege35:56 Key Lessons from the Journey46:58 Embracing Your True Self and CommunityI also share why journaling + weekly reviews changed my consistency, why “start in January” is a trap, and how to build simple habits that create momentum going into 2026.Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thecoachgshowFollow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkampIf you enjoyed this episode, subscribe and send me your feedback.

Motivation doesn’t last.Discipline does.In this episode, Coach G (Gurthro Steenkamp) explains why relying on motivation is one of the biggest mistakes rugby players and coaches make — and how real discipline is built through identity, systems, and clarity.📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaecIf you’re tired of starting strong and fading, this episode will help you reset your approach to performance, training, and life.00:00 Welcome and Community Engagement01:39 Discipline vs. Motivation: Understanding the Concepts06:21 The Role of Discipline in Achieving Goals16:04 Creating a Personal Operating System25:24 Positive vs. Negative Distractions and Their Impact29:16 Community Support and Closing Thoughts32:14 Looking Ahead: The Future of the Coach G ShowFollow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thecoachgshowFollow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

In this episode of The Coach G Show, Coach G is joined again by Zeenat Simjee (RD) — performance dietitian and former Springbok nutritionist — for a deep dive into human performance.📩  Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaecThey unpack the hidden habits that crush energy and focus: inconsistent eating, poor sleep routines, doom-scrolling, and using caffeine to mask fatigue. Zeenat shares practical systems for athletes and professionals: improving sleep quality, managing caffeine timing, building movement into the workday, and using behavior-change principles (habit stacking, tracking, rewards) to make performance sustainable.00:00 — The Real Problem: No Credible Nutrition Guidance01:06 — Intro: Nutrition Systems That Boost Performance Under Pressure03:03 — Schools, Social Media Noise & Making Nutrition Accessible05:19 — Coach Life Audit: Habits, Routines & The “Operating System”07:17 — Poor Performance Habits: Irregular Eating, Screens & “Band-Aid” Fixes09:42 — Recovery Pyramid: Stop Chasing Saunas Before Fixing Sleep & Food14:08 — How Much Sleep Do You Really Need? Consistency vs Catch-Up16:21 — Quality Over Quantity: Wearables, Intuition & the Placebo Trap20:48 — Sleep Inertia, Bedtime Routine & Blue-Light Damage31:34 — Caffeine for Performance: Doses, Timing, Tolerance & Hidden Sources45:38 — Corporate = Sport: Burnout Is a Systems Problem (Food, Movement, Meetings)01:03:11 — Behavior Change Blueprint: Values, Low-Hanging Fruit, Habit Stacking & TrackingIf you want more energy, better focus, and consistency under pressure — this one’s for you.Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/thecoachgshowFollow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp

Everyone talks about goals at the end of the year.Very few people talk about identity.In this episode, Coach G (Gurthro Steenkamp) explains why waiting for the New Year — or 2026 — is the reason most people stay stuck, frustrated, and inconsistent.This conversation is about:Why New Year’s resolutions don’t lastWhy identity matters more than motivationHow habits are really formed (and broken)What high performers do differentlyWhy clarity, systems, and standards matter more than hype📩 Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaecWhether you’re a rugby player, a coach, or someone chasing high performance in life, this episode will challenge the way you think about change.If you want to stop restarting and start becoming, this one is for you.🎙️ Press play and start the reset — now.