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Some victories send double weight in the message they broadcast. Among the flurry of weekend Test matches, it was the Saturday evening outcome in Paris that will resonate most profoundly across both hemispheres. Not merely the conclusion, but equally the approach of achievement. To suggest that the Springboks overturned various established theories would be an modest description of the rugby year.

Shifting Momentum

Forget about the notion, for instance, that France would avenge the disappointment of their World Cup elimination. That entering the last period with a small margin and an additional player would result in assumed success. That even without their talisman their captain, they still had sufficient tranquiliser darts to contain the strong rivals safely at bay.

On the contrary, it was a case of counting their poulets before time. After being 17-13 down, the reduced Springboks concluded with scoring 19 unanswered points, confirming their status as a squad who more and more reserve their top performance for the most challenging circumstances. Whereas overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in September was a message, here was clear demonstration that the top-ranked team are developing an greater resilience.

Set-Piece Superiority

If anything, the coach's champion Bok forwards are increasingly make opposing sides look less committed by comparison. The Scottish and English sides each enjoyed their periods of promise over the two-day period but did not have the same dominant forwards that effectively reduced France to rubble in the final thirty minutes. A number of talented young France's pack members are emerging but, by the conclusion, the match was hommes contre garçons.

What was perhaps even more striking was the mental strength underpinning it all. Missing Lood de Jager – shown a dismissal before halftime for a dangerous contact of Thomas Ramos – the Springboks could might well have lost their composure. On the contrary they merely united and began taking the disheartened home team to what a retired hooker described as “the hurt locker.”

Guidance and Example

Afterwards, having been carried around the venue on the powerful backs of the lock pairing to honor his century of appearances, the South African skipper, the flanker, repeatedly emphasized how several of his squad have been obliged to rise above personal challenges and how he hoped his team would similarly continue to inspire fans.

The ever-sage an analyst also made an astute comment on television, proposing that Erasmus’s record increasingly make him the rugby's version of Sir Alex Ferguson. In the event that the world champions manage to claim a third straight world title there will be complete assurance. In case they fail to achieve it, the intelligent way in which Erasmus has rejuvenated a experienced roster has been an exemplary model to other teams.

Emerging Talent

Look no further than his young playmaker the newcomer who sprinted past for the decisive touchdown that effectively shattered the French windows. And also the scrum-half, a further half-back with explosive speed and an even sharper ability to spot openings. Of course it is beneficial to operate behind a dominant set of forwards, with the powerful center adding physicality, but the steady transformation of the South African team from scowling heavyweights into a team who can also float like butterflies and deliver telling blows is extraordinary.

Glimpses of French Quality

This is not to imply that France were totally outclassed, in spite of their weak ending. The wing's second try in the right corner was a good illustration. The set-piece strength that tied in the visiting eight, the excellent wide ball from Ramos and Penaud’s finishing dive into the advertising hoardings all demonstrated the traits of a squad with notable skill, despite missing Dupont.

But even that ultimately proved insufficient, which really is a sobering thought for everybody else. It would be impossible, for instance, that the visitors could have gone 17-0 down to South Africa and fought back in the way they did versus New Zealand. And for all the red rose's strong finish, there is a distance to travel before the national side can be confident of standing up to the world's top team with everything on the line.

Home Nations' Tests

Defeating an developing Fijian side proved tricky enough on match day although the upcoming showdown against the All Blacks will be the match that accurately reflects their November Tests. The All Blacks are not invincible, particularly without Jordie Barrett in their center, but when it comes to taking their chances they are still a cut above most the northern hemisphere teams.

The Scottish team were especially culpable of missing the chance to secure the decisive blows and doubts still apply to England’s optimal back division. It is fine performing in the final quarter – and far superior than fading in the closing stages – but their notable nine-match unbeaten run this year has so far included just a single victory over world-class sides, a close result over the French in earlier in the year.

Future Prospects

Therefore the significance of this coming Saturday. Analyzing the situation it would look like several changes are anticipated in the team selection, with experienced individuals being reinstated to the team. In the pack, likewise, first-choice players should all be back from the start.

But everything is relative, in rugby as in reality. From now until the next global tournament the {rest