Winning The Away Game

Ping Productions
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Winning the Away Game launches on 20 November, just before the Ireland Test. This new podcast brings together successful South Africans who have conquered the world and pairs them with Springbok legends, including our co-host Flip van der Merwe. In every episode we look at resilience, legacy and the mindset needed to win when the odds are stacked against you. Whether you love Springbok rugby, business strategy or stories of South African grit going global, this is your new home for insight and inspiration.

  1. Finding Purpose Behind The Mic - Rudy Paige and Jan Hugo

    10h ago

    Finding Purpose Behind The Mic - Rudy Paige and Jan Hugo

    What happens when the thing that defined you no longer defines you? In this episode of Winning The Away Game, Justinus Adriaanse and Flip van der Merwe sit down with rugby international and Behind The Ruck co-host Rudy Page, alongside former banking executive, helicopter pilot, and Relocated South African founder Jan Higu. From professional sport to entrepreneurship, from executive leadership to immigration, this conversation explores the uncomfortable reality of starting over. Both guests share deeply personal stories about identity, purpose, fear, reinvention, and what it takes to build something meaningful after success. If you've ever faced a major life transition, wondered what's next, or felt like you're starting from zero again, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways Why losing your identity can be harder than losing your job How Rudy Page rebuilt purpose after retiring from professional rugby Lessons Jan learned from leaving corporate leadership and moving abroad Why vulnerability creates stronger communities than perfection The hidden emotional costs of immigration and reinvention How continuous learning becomes your greatest advantage in a second career Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:10 Favourite Springbok Memories 06:58 Why Rudy Retired From Rugby 08:40 Starting Behind The Ruck 10:40 Losing Purpose After Sport 14:20 Reinventing Yourself Multiple Times 16:00 Immigration, Adversity and Resilience 21:10 Learning Podcasting From Scratch 24:40 Lessons From Rugby That Still Matter 28:30 Why Jan Left Corporate Life 31:20 The Reality Of Living Abroad 36:00 Helicopters, Celebrities and Risk 39:30 Fear, Faith and Uncertainty 43:00 When Things Go Wrong Overseas 47:30 Identity After Success 53:00 Final Reflections 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 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/

    1h 9m
  2. Why Identity Can’t Come From Achievement - Pierre Spies and Daniel Ornellas

    May 21

    Why Identity Can’t Come From Achievement - Pierre Spies and Daniel Ornellas

    Pierre Spies and Daniel Ornellas come from completely different worlds — elite rugby and global music — but this conversation reveals how similar the pressure of identity, purpose, loss, and reinvention really is. Pierre opens up about losing his father before his Springbok breakthrough, the emotional reality of retiring from rugby, and why fame can never become your identity. Daniel shares the story behind Tree63, moving to America, touring with Taylor Swift and Camila Cabello, and why living abroad made him feel even more South African. This episode is for founders, athletes, creatives, and anyone wrestling with reinvention after success. Key Takeaways Why success often exposes identity problems instead of solving them The hidden emotional cost of elite performance How grief shaped both Pierre and Daniel’s leadership journeys Why moving overseas can deepen your connection to home The danger of tying your identity to your profession How purpose becomes clearer after public success fades Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:20 Living in Nashville and George 03:10 Favorite Springbok memories 06:55 Pierre’s nightmare Springbok debut 07:30 Losing fathers before career breakthroughs 10:00 The decision that changed Pierre’s life 11:35 Daniel’s father, rock music and radical faith 14:45 Growing up with no money and total faith 15:40 Why Daniel never wanted to be on stage 17:25 Becoming more like your parents 18:40 What death teaches you about life 20:00 Leaving South Africa for America 21:20 The problem with fear-driven emigration 23:00 Why South Africa still feels like home 26:45 Life after rugby and identity loss 28:15 From rugby career to calling 30:30 The hidden challenge of retirement 31:20 Why identity cannot come from achievement 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 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/

    1h 3m
  3. Ricky Maia and Percy Montgomery on Catamarans, Tequila and Obsession

    May 6

    Ricky Maia and Percy Montgomery on Catamarans, Tequila and Obsession

    What do catamarans, tequila, and elite rugby have in common? On the surface—nothing. But underneath, this episode reveals the mindset of people who refuse to live ordinary lives. Ricky Maia and Percy Montgomery unpack what drives obsession-level commitment—from building a boat from scratch and sailing across the Atlantic, to kicking in World Cup finals and launching a tequila brand after rugby. This is a conversation about chaos, risk, reinvention, and the kind of thinking that makes unconventional lives work. If you’ve ever felt like your path doesn’t make sense—this episode will. Chapters 00:00 Introduction  00:02 The 2007 World Cup and elite pressure  00:05 Leaving systems that no longer work  00:08 Building a catamaran from scratch  00:12 The reality behind chasing freedom  00:15 Adapting across countries and cultures  00:18 Losing money and entering the US market  00:21 Rock bottom and rebuilding through obsession  00:24 Life after rugby and launching tequila  00:28 Finding purpose in unconventional paths  00:31 Resourcefulness vs resources  00:34 Advice for young South Africans  00:37 Why doing what you love matters  00:40 AI vs community  00:42 Legacy and long-term impact 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 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/

    50 min

  4. Apr 9

    Nick Mallett & Sean Peche - The Decision That Costs Everything

    What separates the leaders who sustain success from those who flame out at the top? In this episode, Springbok coach Nick Mallett and global fund manager Sean Peche strip back decades of high-performance experience to reveal the decisions, assumptions, and identity shifts that defined — and sometimes derailed — their careers. This is essential listening for founders, executives, and anyone operating in high-stakes environments where clarity disappears and the pressure to act is constant. From losing a team's confidence with one selection call, to spending 14 years marketing to the wrong market, both guests bring rare candour to questions most leaders avoid. If you've ever made a call you regretted under pressure, or held a belief that turned out to be quietly costing you, this episode will hit hard. Chapters: Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction — Decisions Without Certainty 00:02:30 Springbok Memories — 1995 and 2019 00:08:00 Nick Mallett: From Player to Coach in France 00:14:00 Sean Peche: Moving to London and Starting Ranmore 00:20:00 The False Assumption That Cost Sean 14 Years 00:25:00 From $50M to $2.5 Billion — The LinkedIn Turning Point 00:30:00 Nick's Biggest Coaching Mistake: The Gary Teichmann Decision 00:37:00 How One Selection Broke Team Trust Instantly 00:42:00 The South African Advantage — Confronting Poverty and Building Resilience 00:49:00 Nick Mallett's Advice for Aspiring Coaches 00:54:00 Two Roads to a Springbok Jersey — Privilege vs. Pure Resilience 00:58:00 Sean on Giving Back: The Run More Shoe Initiative 01:02:00 Should You Wait Before Taking the Big Job? 01:05:00 Getting the Odds on Your Side — Final Lessons 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 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/

    1h 6m

  5. Mar 26

    Nomsebenzi Tsotsobe & Francisca Lombard - Winning Where You Don’t Belong

    What does it take to succeed in systems that were never designed to recognise you? In this episode, Nomsebenzi "Noms" Tsotsobe, the first captain of the Springbok Women's Team, and Francisca Lombard, engineer and creator of MineGPT, share what it really looks like to build credibility, authority, and resilience in male-dominated environments. This episode is for anyone navigating career transitions, entering spaces where they feel like outsiders, or trying to build something meaningful without recognition. The core tension: doing the work long before the system is ready to acknowledge you. If you’ve ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or out of place—this conversation will shift how you approach your career. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:01 Proving Yourself in Unfair Systems 00:03 Nomsebenzi’s First Springbok Moment 00:07 Francisca’s Start in Mining 00:10 Loss, Cancer, and Perspective 00:14 Building Women’s Rugby From Nothing 00:18 Working Without Recognition 00:22 Moving to Canada Alone 00:26 Cultural Shock and Isolation 00:30 Fighting for Authority 00:34 Role Models and Early Influence 00:38 Building Confidence From Scratch 00:42 Finding Your Footing 00:46 Why the Struggle Continues 00:50 The Future of Women’s Rugby 00:53 AI and the Future of Work 00:57 Final Reflections 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 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/

    59 min

  6. Mar 12

    Pat Lambie and Bruce Whitfield - Leaving Too Early and Starting Over

    In this episode of Winning The Away Game, Pat Lambie and Bruce Whitfield unpack what it means to rebuild after loss - whether it's concussion ending a rugby career or walking away from a powerful media platform. This conversation is for founders, operators, and high performers navigating uncertainty, identity shifts, and global transitions. From elite sport to global banking, this episode explores pressure, resilience, and how South Africans consistently win on foreign soil. Key Takeaways • Why identity loss can be your greatest growth catalyst • The difference between sporting pressure and financial pressure • How rugby prepares leaders for business environments • Why chaos is not destruction - it's diversification The mindset required to rebuild relevance from zero • Why South Africans thrive globally Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:10 Bruce on Rugby as a Unifier 06:06 Pat's First Springbok Anthem Moment 11:40 Concussion and Forced Retirement 14:09 Bruce's Move to London 18:03 Rebuilding Identity in a New Market 22:37 Transitioning from Rugby to Business 25:30 The Discipline Gap After Sport 29:19 Fatherhood as a New Purpose 33:10 Confidence Under Pressure 37:25 Ego, Leadership and Tough Conversations 44:12 The TymeBank Away Game Story 50:53 Why South Africans Win Globally 54:38 What the Next 10 Years Look Like Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9lh6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/ id1853818584 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/ Tik Tok: 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/

    59 min

  7. Feb 26

    Schalk Brits and Andrew Farrant - Don't Forget To Enjoy The Ride

    In this episode of Winning The Away Game, Schalk Brits and Andrew Farrant unpack the real cost of ambition — from elite rugby and expat life to rebuilding identity in corporate environments abroad. This conversation is for founders, operators, athletes, and expats who’ve had to reinvent themselves in unfamiliar territory. It’s about sacrifice, culture, ego, family, and the brutal honesty required to build something meaningful in a foreign system. If you're navigating transition — country, career, or identity — this episode will challenge how you define winning. 00:00 Introduction 02:41 Best Springbok Moments 06:16 The Danger of Forgetting the Journey 07:55 Make Work Fun Again 09:03 Leaving South Africa 11:45 Moving to Saracens 16:16 Culture Over Trophies 20:31 The Reality of UK Life 21:07 Retiring From Rugby 27:26 The 15-Year Experience Gap 35:11 Nearly Losing Family 38:09 Starting From Zero Abroad 44:22 Integrating Into British Culture 50:37 What Does the Future Look Like? 53:39 Compounding Yourself Daily 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 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/

    58 min

  8. Feb 12

    Cabous van der Westhuizen and Brannon Phillips. From Springboks to Mauritius, from SA to Los Angeles

    In this episode of Winning The Away Game, hosts Justinus Adriaanse and Flip van der Merwe speak with former Springbok Cabous van der Westhuizen and global entertainment executive Brannon Phillips about reinvention, starting over in new countries, and what elite sport teaches you about succeeding when no one is clapping anymore.From building a beach bar business in Mauritius to navigating the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, this episode explores resilience, identity, culture shifts, and the mindset needed to win the Away Game. Chapters 00:00 Highlights 01:04 Welcome 02:43 Favourite Springbok moment 07:12 Why leave South Africa? 15:59 Adjusting abroad 25:53 Rebuilding credibility 33:24 Culture shifts 39:19 Identity and leadership 43:00 Final reflections 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 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/

    1h 5m
See All (27)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Winning the Away Game launches on 20 November, just before the Ireland Test. This new podcast brings together successful South Africans who have conquered the world and pairs them with Springbok legends, including our co-host Flip van der Merwe. In every episode we look at resilience, legacy and the mindset needed to win when the odds are stacked against you. Whether you love Springbok rugby, business strategy or stories of South African grit going global, this is your new home for insight and inspiration.

Information

  • Creator
    Ping Productions
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Winning The Away Game

You Might Also Like