Team chemistry wins Super Rugby titles.
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The teams that enjoy each other's company, laugh, joke and combine it with hard work are the successful ones.
I got a firsthand and surprise look at this after the ACT Brumbies' training session in Johannesburg on Thursday morning Australian time.
When you travel with the teams you get to see things that go unnoticed or unmentioned outside inner circles.
I was preparing to walk back to the hotel from the last full-on training session of the week.
It was about 20 degrees, the sun was setting and we were only about 10 minutes away from the safe hotel. But sometimes you forget you're in South Africa and anything can happen.
I got about 50 metres in front of the team bus - which was yet to leave - when horns started tooting.
I put my head down and kept walking. People were wondering what was going on and then I heard my name called.
I've only felt unsafe a couple of times on four different trips to South Africa and usually there's safety in numbers, just like anywhere.
It was the Brumbies trying to get me back to the bus. When I got there they told me it was coach Jake White's idea.
Given White's a local, I thought I'd better trust him.
The team bus is a private place. Outsiders aren't let on.
But as I sat down, White told me he thought he may never see me again if he let me walk back alone.
I was sure I would have been fine. But I was grateful for what happened next.
On the short drive back to the hotel at the Montecasino complex, the Brumbies were belting out songs from a boom box.
They'd just finished a crisp training session where everything seemed to click. But they were relaxed, enjoying each other's company and seemed like mates first, teammates second.
Clyde Rathbone calls the Brumbies a big family.
Captain Ben Mowen says the most important thing about being in a team is being willing to sacrifice everything for the bloke standing next to you.
When the bus pulled up to the hotel, I got off. I thought everyone would follow. They didn't.
I stood outside and heard the reason why they didn't follow.
All the players stayed on board to belt out Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley.
White had a beaming grin. The singing wasn't great but the team chemistry was overflowing and oozing out the bus door.
You can't recruit team chemistry. You have to build it through work ethic, mateship and a desire to succeed.
And regardless of whether it wins the Brumbies the match on Sunday morning, you know the team will put everything on the line to ensure they don't let each other down.