Show Notes
What happens when elite sport ends, the cheering stops, and life asks you to start again? In this episode of Winning The Away Game, we sit down with Springbok and Bulls legend Wynand Olivier and veteran journalist Robyn Curnow for a powerful, honest conversation about identity, reinvention, and what it really means to begin again. We talk about the emotional reality of leaving professional rugby, moving countries, and returning home to a version of life that has moved on without you. Wynand opens up about the shock of retirement, building a business from scratch, and why coming back to South Africa was harder than moving to Japan, France, or England. Robyn shares her journey through global journalism, covering defining moments in South Africa’s history, and what it’s like to rebuild a sense of belonging after more than a decade abroad. This is a conversation about grief, growth, masculinity, motherhood, legacy, and the quiet courage it takes to adapt when your old identity no longer fits. If you’ve ever felt displaced, underestimated, or unsure of who you are after a big chapter ends, this episode is for you.
00:00 – Welcome to Winning The Away Game 02:10 – Introducing Wynand Olivier and Robyn 03:05 – Favourite Springbok Memories & National Pride 05:00 – The 2007 Super Rugby Final That Changed Everything 07:10 – Growing Up With Rugby and Knowing This Was the Path 10:30 – What Springbok Success Meant to South Africans 14:20 – Playing Under Pressure in Front of 80,000 People 18:40 – The Golden Era of the Bulls Explained 20:15 – The Decision to Leave South Africa and Go Overseas 24:30 – Landing in Japan Alone and Learning to Adapt 28:40 – From France to England: Life Abroad as a Pro Player 33:40 – Journalism, Nation Building, and Telling South Africa’s Story 37:00 – Covering History: Mandela, Global Leaders, and Hard Truths 41:30 – When Careers End and Identity Shifts 46:10 – Coming Home vs Staying Away 51:00 – Raising Children Across Countries and Cultures 56:40 – Why South Africans Adapt So Well Globally 1:01:10 – Stepping Away From Careers That No Longer Serve You 1:05:50 – Detoxing From Noise, Media, and Modern Life 1:08:30 – Where Will We Watch the 2027 World Cup? 1:11:30 – Defining Legacy Beyond Titles and Careers 1:15:40 – Advice to Our Children and Future Selves 1:20:00 – Final Reflections on Winning the Away Game
Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9Ih6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/id1853818584
Check out Robyn's podcast, Searching For America, at: https://www.youtube.com/@therobyncurnow Or subscribe to her Substack at: https://robyncurnow.substack.com/
Connect with Justinus:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/ Connect with Flip:https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipvandermerwe/
Check out our other channels: Website: https://wtagpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-the-away-game-podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtag_podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wtag_podcast
Winning The Away Game is produced by Jonathan Warncke Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E%99-jonathan-warncke-45b2095/ Ping Productions: https://www.pingproductions.net/
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