The Power of Depth: Lessons from the Springboks, Other Great Teams and a Salman production line for Corporate Success

In both sports and business, the ability of team members to cover for one another is often the difference between success and failure. Whether it’s the Springboks winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup despite an early injury, or a high-care production line continuing to run smoothly even when staff are on break, the key lies in team depth and versatility. This article draws lessons from my own experiences and highlights how these principles can transform the performance of corporate teams.

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Depth Wins Championships: The Springboks’ Triumph

The Springboks’ 2023 Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand was a perfect example of the importance of depth. Just two minutes into the game, South Africa's first-choice hooker, Bongi Mbonambi, suffered a knee injury that forced him off the field AOL. The Springboks had no choice but to call on their third-choice hooker, Deon Fourie, for the remainder of the match. While this could have been a devastating blow for any team, South Africa’s ability to adapt and trust in their depth allowed them to continue playing at a high level and eventually claim victory.

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This wasn’t an isolated incident for the Springboks. Their dominance in world rugby is built on the depth of their squad and their ability to rotate players seamlessly. They demonstrated this first in 2019, where they overcame similar adversity to win the tournament. In both instances, the strength of their entire team, not just the star players, was crucial to their success SA Rugby.

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Other Sports Teams Dominating Through Depth

The Springboks aren't the only example of how depth can lead to sustained success. Many of the greatest sports teams across various disciplines have built their legacies on similar principles of versatility and adaptability.

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1. New England Patriots (NFL): Under the leadership of coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots have been one of the most successful teams in NFL history, winning six Super Bowls between 2001 and 2019. Belichick is renowned for his "next man up" philosophy, where backups are expected to step in without missing a beat when starters go down. Their ability to rotate players in different positions has helped them remain competitive, even in seasons with multiple injuries.
2. Golden State Warriors (NBA): The Warriors, led by Steve Kerr, have been dominant in the NBA for much of the 2010s, winning four championships in eight years (2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022). Their depth was a key factor in their sustained success, as players like Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston provided invaluable contributions off the bench. Kerr's system allowed role players to step up when stars like Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson were injured, keeping the Warriors competitive even in challenging times.
3. Spain National Football Team (2008-2012): Spain’s national football team achieved historic success between 2008 and 2012, winning two UEFA European Championships (2008, 2012) and the FIFA World Cup (2010). This success was largely due to the depth of their squad, with players like Cesc Fàbregas, Juan Mata, and Fernando Torres coming off the bench to deliver critical performances. Spain’s ability to rotate key players and still maintain a high level of play was a major reason behind their dominance in world football during that period.
4. All Blacks (New Zealand Rugby Team): Like the Springboks, New Zealand’s All Blacks have consistently been one of the top rugby teams in the world, winning three Rugby World Cups (1987, 2011, and 2015). Their depth is legendary, with multiple world-class players in almost every position. The All Blacks’ system emphasizes adaptability and versatility, allowing them to maintain dominance even as they rotate players in and out due to injury or form.

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Versatility in Production: The Salmon Factory Example

This same principle is evident in my experience working in a high-care salmon production environment. With around 16 people working at any given time, it is common for 3-5 staff members to be on break. Yet, the line never stops. Why? Because every individual is trained to step into multiple roles when necessary. There is a collective understanding that the job needs to get done, no matter who is available at the time.

In this scenario, management plays a pivotal role by upskilling the team and building trust in their abilities. Everyone knows their role but also has the training (and trust from management) to perform someone else’s job when needed. This not only increases productivity but also creates a resilient team capable of overcoming challenges in real time.

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A Gap in Corporate Culture: Specialization vs. Depth

After spending over a decade in the corporate world, particularly in retail banking, I noticed a stark difference. Many corporate teams are overly specialized. Individuals tend to stick strictly to their job descriptions, with little regard for the overall outcomes of the team. In this kind of environment, when key people are unavailable, progress slows, and productivity suffers.

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I often found myself being asked, “How do you know so much?” or “How are you so good at your job?” For a long time, I let these compliments fuel my ego. But it wasn’t until my recent experience in a salmon factory that I realized the truth. It wasn’t that I was inherently better at my job, it was that I took the initiative to learn about other departments. I exposed myself to different roles, allowing me to have more meaningful conversations with experts from various fields. This broader knowledge base gave me the ability to influence projects beyond my immediate responsibilities.

For example, instead of relying solely on the marketing team to write collateral for me, I would draft it myself and ask them to refine it. This made collaboration easier and more effective because I could speak their language and understand the nuances of their work. By repeatedly doing this across departments, I was able to contribute to a broader range of projects and ultimately improve the team’s overall performance. I've highlighted below some of the pros and cons of specialisation and generalisation, and how this can be linked back to depth.

If you look at the common causes for project delays, many of them can be traced directly back to a lack of team depth. When resources are overly specialized, it creates a bottleneck where only a few individuals can handle certain tasks, leading to delays if they are unavailable or unable to execute effectively. This lack of versatility becomes a critical issue—either the right people aren’t present, or they simply don’t have the skills to step into unfamiliar roles when needed.

It used to frustrate me to no end when “scope creep” was used as the go-to excuse for delays. Yes, if scope changes dramatically and shifts the project’s direction, then it requires reassessment. But often, scope creep represents small, incremental changes that add value to the project—things you couldn’t foresee at the start. The problem isn’t always the added scope itself, but the team’s inability to adapt quickly. This is one of the main reasons why agile methodologies became so popular, as they encourage adaptability and iterative development.

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One of the biggest correlations I see between project delays and underperformance is the challenge of unrealistic deliverables. Take the 2019 Rugby World Cup, for example—it was considered unrealistic for the Springboks to win, given their journey leading up to the final. But the team's depth and versatility allowed them to overcome the odds and achieve the impossible. When teams have the skills and adaptability to respond to evolving situations, the so-called "unrealistic" becomes achievable.

Ultimately, the point is clear: depth creates opportunities for success. The more versatile and skilled a team is, the more they can adapt, overcome obstacles, and deliver results—even in the face of unexpected challenges.

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What Corporates Can Learn

The lessons from the Springboks, the Patriots, the Warriors, and the All Blacks are clear: depth matters. Whether in sport, production, or corporate environments, teams perform best when individuals are equipped to step into multiple roles. This doesn’t mean everyone needs to be an expert at everything, but having a working knowledge of other functions enhances collaboration and strengthens team resilience.

In the corporate world, too many teams fall short because employees only focus on their specific tasks, rather than the broader objectives. By encouraging cross-functional learning and upskilling, businesses can create teams that are adaptable and ready to face any challenge—just like the Springboks on the rugby field or the Warriors on the basketball court.

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Conclusion: Building Depth for Success

The ability to seamlessly adapt and cover for others should be a foundational goal for every team, whether in sports, business, or production. It’s not just about winning rugby matches or keeping a factory line moving—it’s about creating a culture of collaboration, adaptability, and trust. Investing in your team’s depth doesn’t just pay off in the short term; it builds resilience, empowering teams to thrive under pressure and navigate unexpected challenges.

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My experiences in both retail banking and the salmon factory taught me a valuable lesson: it’s not enough to be the best in one specific area. Real impact comes from being proficient across multiple areas, knowing how to support your team, and recognizing that success is a collective effort.

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By fostering a culture of versatility, businesses can improve performance, enhance employee satisfaction, and build teams capable of overcoming obstacles. Just as the Springboks and other great teams have shown, success is built on the strength of the team, not the brilliance of a single individual. This brings me to a final, critical point: leadership is the ultimate force that brings everything together.

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There are teams with remarkable talent—like PSG in football—that have failed to meet expectations because depth alone isn’t enough. It’s how leaders utilize that depth, empower their people, and drive collaboration that ultimately determines whether a team will succeed or fall short. The leadership that Rassie Erasmus brought to the Springboks shows exactly how depth can be harnessed to achieve greatness.

Marcel