🔗 Share this article

Certain wins send twofold weight in the lesson they convey. Within the barrage of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was Saturday night's score in Paris that will resonate longest across the globe. Not merely the end result, but the way the manner of achievement. To suggest that the Springboks demolished several established beliefs would be an understatement of the season.

Surprising Comeback

So much for the idea, for example, that the French team would make amends for the injustice of their World Cup last-eight loss. That entering the closing stages with a small margin and an additional player would lead to assumed success. Despite missing their star man Antoine Dupont, they still had sufficient tranquiliser darts to restrain the powerful opponents safely at bay.

On the contrary, it was a case of counting their poulets too early. Initially behind on the scoreboard, the 14-man Boks ended up racking up 19 points without reply, confirming their reputation as a squad who more and more save their best for the most challenging situations. Whereas defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in September was a message, this was clear demonstration that the top-ranked team are building an more robust mentality.

Pack Power

If anything, Erasmus's champion Bok forwards are beginning to make all other teams look less committed by comparison. Both northern hemisphere teams both had their periods of promise over the recent fixtures but possessed nothing like the same earthmovers that effectively reduced the home side to landfill in the last half-hour. Several up-and-coming young France's pack members are coming through but, by the final whistle, the encounter was a mismatch in experience.

What was perhaps even more striking was the psychological resilience driving it all. Missing the second-rower – given a red card in the first half for a high tackle of the French full-back – the South Africans could easily have become disorganized. Instead they just regrouped and set about dragging the disheartened home team to what one former French international described as “the hurt locker.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Post-game, having been borne aloft around the Parisian stadium on the powerful backs of two key forwards to celebrate his 100th cap, the South African skipper, the flanker, yet again stressed how many of his squad have been required to overcome life difficulties and how he aspired his team would similarly continue to motivate people.

The ever-sage a commentator also made an shrewd observation on television, stating that his results increasingly make him the parallel figure of the Manchester United great. In the event that the world champions succeed in secure another global trophy there will be no doubt whatsoever. Even if they come up short, the clever way in which Erasmus has refreshed a potentially ageing roster has been an masterclass to everyone.

Emerging Talent

Consider his young playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who darted through for the decisive touchdown that effectively shattered the home defense. And also another half-back, another playmaker with lightning acceleration and an keener vision for space. Undoubtedly it helps to play behind a dominant set of forwards, with the powerful center adding physicality, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the Boks from intimidating giants into a side who can also float like butterflies and strike decisively is extraordinary.

Home Side's Moments

Which is not to say that France were totally outclassed, in spite of their limp finish. Damian Penaud’s additional score in the far side was a clear example. The power up front that engaged the South African pack, the excellent wide ball from Ramos and the try-scorer's execution into the advertising hoardings all displayed the characteristics of a squad with significant talent, even in the absence of their star man.

But even that in the end was insufficient, which is a humbling reality for competing teams. It is inconceivable, for example, that Scotland could have fallen behind by 17 points to South Africa and mounted a comeback in the way they did versus New Zealand. Notwithstanding the English team's late resurgence, there still exists a gap to close before the national side can be certain of competing with the South African powerhouses with all at stake.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Beating an developing Fijian side was challenging on the weekend although the next encounter against the All Blacks will be the fixture that properly defines their end-of-year series. New Zealand are certainly vulnerable, notably absent Jordie Barrett in their backline, but when it comes to taking their chances they are still a level above almost all the home unions.

Scotland were especially culpable of failing to hammer home the killing points and question marks still hang over the English side's perfect backline combination. It is fine finishing games strongly – and infinitely better than fading in the closing stages – but their admirable winning sequence this year has so far shown just one success over world-class sides, a one-point home victory over France in earlier in the year.

Future Prospects

Hence the weight of this coming Saturday. Reading between the lines it would look like several changes are anticipated in the starting lineup, with key players returning to the lineup. In the pack, likewise, regular starters should return from the outset.

However context is key, in sport as in existence. Between now and the upcoming world championship the {rest