In 2018, South African rugby was at a historic low. Just 18 months later, they were world champions.
“Chasing the Sun” is the behind-the-scenes doc that shows how that miracle happened.
This doc is for anyone who thinks sports can’t change a country.
My colleague Rob Kelly ranks it #3 in “The 15 Best Rugby Documentaries“.
Trailer for “Chasing the Sun”
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Coach Rassie Erasmus once sat in the stands with a disguised walkie-talkie to relay messages directly to the field—bypassing staff protocol.
- Siya Kolisi, the first Black captain in South Africa’s history, lifted the Webb Ellis Cup just blocks from where he grew up in poverty.
Watch “Chasing the Sun”
You can stream “Chasing the Sun” on RubyPassTV (note: you will need a VPN to route your traffic to South Africa to watch).
I also found two episodes that are free to watch on YouTube:
Episode 1:
Episode 5:
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: 9.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: not yet rated
Director’s Note: Made in partnership with SuperSport and the Springboks. Features extensive unseen footage and interviews with players and coaches.
Release Date: October 2020
My Review of “Chasing the Sun”
The Setup
South Africa’s rugby team—the Springboks—were in shambles. In just 18 months, new coach Rassie Erasmus rebuilt the team and led them to a 32-12 win over England in the 2019 World Cup final. This doc takes you inside that entire journey.
More Highlights from the Doc
- We see how the team used a unique “no excuses” culture that made senior players as accountable as rookies.
- Behind-the-scenes footage of player speeches before the final—especially Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira’s—are pure fire.
- Interviews with players like Handré Pollard and Faf de Klerk show how strategy and mental prep mattered as much as muscle.
- In one team meeting, Rassie plays the national anthem and reminds the players of each verse’s meaning—some of the toughest players cry.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Rassie Erasmus had been working on backup plans for a year—even building analytics tools with a private coder team.
- Siya Kolisi nearly didn’t make the squad—his performance was inconsistent, and Rassie took a personal risk keeping him on.
- Team psychologist Henning Gericke gave players journals to write down their fears—and then burned them before the final game.
Wrap Up
“Chasing the Sun” is a front-row seat to one of the greatest sports turnarounds ever. Even if you’ve never watched rugby, this one will punch you in the heart.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc