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Some victories send double significance in the statement they broadcast. Amid the barrage of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was Saturday night's score in Paris that will echo longest across the globe. Not merely the conclusion, but the way the approach of success. To claim that South Africa overturned several comfortable assumptions would be an oversimplification of the calendar.

Unexpected Turnaround

Forget about the theory, for instance, that France would avenge the unfairness of their World Cup elimination. Assuming that going into the closing stages with a slight advantage and an numerical superiority would lead to inevitable glory. Even in the absence of their talisman their scrum-half, they still had sufficient tranquiliser darts to restrain the big beasts under control.

On the contrary, it was a case of celebrating too soon prematurely. Initially behind on the scoreboard, the South African side with a player sent off ended up racking up 19 points without reply, confirming their status as a team who consistently deliver their finest rugby for the most challenging situations. While beating New Zealand 43-10 in the last quarter was a message, here was conclusive proof that the top-ranked team are cultivating an even thicker skin.

Set-Piece Superiority

If anything, Rassie Erasmus’s title-winning pack are increasingly make opposing sides look less committed by comparison. Scotland and England each enjoyed their periods of promise over the two-day period but possessed nothing like the same dominant forwards that thoroughly overwhelmed the French pack to landfill in the closing period. Several up-and-coming young French forwards are developing but, by the end, Saturday night was men against boys.

Even more notable was the inner fortitude supporting it all. Missing Lood de Jager – shown a 38th-minute straight red for a high tackle of the French full-back – the Boks could might well have become disorganized. Instead they simply circled the wagons and proceeded to taking the deflated French side to what an ex-France player called “a place of suffering.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Afterwards, having been borne aloft around the venue on the powerful backs of two key forwards to honor his hundredth Test, the Springbok captain, the inspirational figure, yet again stressed how many of his players have been obliged to conquer life difficulties and how he wished his side would likewise continue to encourage people.

The perceptive an analyst also made an shrewd point on television, stating that Erasmus’s record more and more make him the rugby coaching equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson. Should the Springboks succeed in secure another global trophy there will be absolute certainty. In case they fail to achieve it, the intelligent way in which Erasmus has rejuvenated a possibly veteran team has been an exemplary model to everyone.

New Generation

Look no further than his young playmaker the rising star who skipped over for the closing score that decisively broke the opposition line. And also another half-back, a second playmaker with lightning acceleration and an keener eye for a gap. Undoubtedly it is an advantage to operate behind a massive forward unit, with the inside back providing support, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the Boks from intimidating giants into a squad who can also move with agility and deliver telling blows is remarkable.

Home Side's Moments

This is not to imply that the home side were utterly overwhelmed, in spite of their limp finish. Their winger's later touchdown in the right corner was a prime instance. The set-piece strength that tied in the Bok forwards, the glorious long pass from Ramos and the winger's clinical finish into the sideline boards all demonstrated the hallmarks of a squad with significant talent, even in the absence of their captain.

Yet that in the end was insufficient, which is a daunting prospect for competing teams. There is no way, for example, that the visitors could have gone 17-0 down to South Africa and fought back in the way they did versus New Zealand. Despite the red rose's strong finish, there is a journey ahead before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be confident of competing with the South African powerhouses with everything on the line.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Defeating an Pacific Island team was challenging on match day although the forthcoming clash against the All Blacks will be the contest that accurately reflects their end-of-year series. The visitors are certainly vulnerable, notably absent their key midfielder in their backline, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they are still a level above most the European sides.

Scotland were notably at fault of missing the chance to secure the killing points and question marks still surround England’s perfect backline combination. It is all very well finishing games strongly – and infinitely better than fading in the closing stages – but their commendable nine-match unbeaten run this year has so far shown just one success over world-class sides, a one-point home victory over the French in earlier in the year.

Future Prospects

Hence the significance of this coming Saturday. Analyzing the situation it would look like a number of adjustments are anticipated in the team selection, with experienced individuals being reinstated to the team. Among the forwards, similarly, first-choice players should return from the start.

But everything is relative, in sport as in reality. Between now and the upcoming world championship the {rest