The Rugby World Cup is the pinnacle tournament for players, coaches and fans alike.

Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has analysed and debated rugby for over 30 years. Known for his brilliant and often forthright commentary, gathered here is a collection of his ideas and opinions and anecdotes for the coming world cup:

• The Magic of the World Cup
• The Springbok Machine
• The Springboks in 2023
• Competition Stronger Than Ever
• Playing in France
• The Rassie Factor
• Matches that will decide the RWC
• Key Players
• The Referees
• The Coaches and Captains – leadership is key
• Handling the pressure – the mental challenge
• Nick’s predictions

The Springboks made history in France in 2023 when they became the only team to win back-to-back rugby world cups. Who can forget how the Boks won by only one point in three games? Released on the anniversary of this milestone, Twice the Glory by Lloyd Burnard and Khanyiso Tshwaku investigates how this remarkable victory was achieved.

A recurring theme is the relationship between Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus, one that goes all the way back to their university days, how it developed and how, when watching the Boks play against Ireland in 2017, they decided to come back to SA to ‘turn things around’.

Nienaber is famously self-effacing but in a dedicated chapter and interview, the authors examine the man who rose from physiotherapist to world-beating coach. And how he combined with Erasmus to form a world-beating duo. Rassie and Jacques had only 18 months to turn the Boks around before their triumph at the 2019 World Cup. It’s all here: the Covid disruption, the Siya Kolisi story, Rassie in hot water over THAT video, injury blows and rising new talent as they head off to France to do battle once again.

Twice the Glory is filled with drama, anecdotes and tears. This is a story that will have you on the edge of your seat as you relive the nail-biting moments. But it also includes penetrating analysis of what contributed to making this Bok team the finest one in its history.

The story of the Springboks 2019 Rugby World Cup victory is one of the most inspiring in South African sporting history.

It is about how two men – coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Siya Kolisi – led a team of warriors into battle and conquered the world when inequality and division are still undeniable realities in South African society. When the Boks won the 2007 World Cup final, they did so with 20 white players in their match-day squad of 22.

In 2019, there were five black Africans in their starting line-up for the Yokohama final and the images of Kolisi lifting the Webb Ellis Cup will be replayed forever.

None of this seemed possible in 2017 when the Boks had reached an all-time low. They had slipped to No 7 in the world and had lost the faith of the rugby-loving public. Erasmus came in with just 18 months to prepare for the competition.

Sports writer Lloyd Burnard takes the reader on a thrilling journey from the time when no-one gave the Boks a chance of winning, to the delirious victory tour. He covers the key roles played by Erasmus and Kolisi, and their special relationship. There are ups and downs en route to victory: the first signs of self-belief when they beat the All Blacks in Wellington, Kolisi’s injury, the fall of Aphiwe Dyantyi when he was caught with banned substances in his system, and the Langebaan incident involving Eben Etzebeth that threatened to derail the team.

'This book belongs on the shelf of every genuine rugby fan' - News24.com When Rassie Erasmus took over as coach of the Springboks in 2018, few thought they had a chance of winning the Rugby World Cup. The Boks had slipped to seventh in the world rankings and lost the faith of the rugby-loving public. Less than two years later, jubilant crowds lined the streets of South Africa's cities to welcome back the victorious team. Sportswriter Lloyd Burnard takes the reader on the thrilling journey of a team that went from no-hopers to world champions. He examines how exactly this turnaround was achieved. Interviews with players, coaches and support staff reveal how the principles of inclusion, openness and focus, as well as careful planning and superb physical conditioning, became the basis for a winning formula. The key roles played by Rassie Erasmus and Siya Kolisi shine through. There were ups and downs along the way: beating the All Blacks in Wellington during the Rugby Championship was a high point, but then came Kolisi's injury, while in Japan the distractions of a volatile support base sometimes shook the players' focus. Miracle Men is filled with marvellous anecdotes and sharp insights. It is also inspiring testimony to what can be achieved when a group of South Africans from all backgrounds come together as a team.