🔗 Share this article

Some victories send twofold significance in the statement they broadcast. Among the barrage of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was Saturday night's score in the French capital that will echo longest across both hemispheres. Not just the end result, but also the manner of success. To say that South Africa demolished a number of comfortable theories would be an understatement of the calendar.

Unexpected Turnaround

Forget about the notion, for instance, that the French team would avenge the injustice of their World Cup elimination. That entering the final quarter with a small margin and an numerical superiority would result in assumed success. That even without their talisman their scrum-half, they still had more than enough tranquiliser darts to contain the powerful opponents safely at bay.

On the contrary, it was a case of counting their poulets prematurely. After being trailing by four points, the reduced Springboks ended up registering 19 consecutive points, strengthening their status as a team who consistently reserve their top performance for the most demanding scenarios. If defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in earlier this year was a statement, this was clear demonstration that the top-ranked team are developing an even thicker skin.

Pack Power

In fact, Rassie Erasmus’s experienced front eight are increasingly make everyone else look laissez-faire by contrast. The Scottish and English sides each enjoyed their moments over the two-day period but possessed nothing like the same dominant forwards that thoroughly overwhelmed the French pack to landfill in the last half-hour. Several up-and-coming young France's pack members are emerging but, by the conclusion, the match was a mismatch in experience.

What was perhaps even more striking was the inner fortitude underpinning it all. Without Lood de Jager – shown a 38th-minute straight red for a high tackle of the French full-back – the South Africans could potentially become disorganized. On the contrary they just regrouped and began pulling the demoralized home team to what an ex-France player referred to as “extreme physical pressure.”

Leadership and Inspiration

Afterwards, having been hoisted around the Parisian stadium on the powerful backs of the lock pairing to mark his hundredth Test, the team leader, the flanker, yet again highlighted how many of his squad have been obliged to overcome personal challenges and how he wished his squad would likewise continue to encourage fans.

The perceptive David Flatman also made an shrewd observation on broadcast, suggesting that Erasmus’s record increasingly make him the rugby coaching equivalent of the legendary football manager. In the event that the world champions manage to secure another global trophy there will be absolute certainty. Should they come up short, the intelligent way in which the coach has rejuvenated a experienced roster has been an exemplary model to everyone.

New Generation

Look no further than his 23-year-old fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who skipped over for the late try that properly blew open the French windows. Or Grant Williams, a second backline player with blistering pace and an more acute vision for space. Naturally it helps to operate behind a massive forward unit, with André Esterhuizen adding physicality, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the South African team from scowling heavyweights into a team who can also display finesse and deliver telling blows is hugely impressive.

Home Side's Moments

However, it should not be thought that the French team were completely dominated, in spite of their fading performance. The wing's later touchdown in the wing area was a prime instance. The set-piece strength that engaged the South African pack, the excellent wide ball from Ramos and Penaud’s finishing dive into the sideline boards all exhibited the traits of a squad with notable skill, without their star man.

But even that turned out to be insufficient, which truly represents a daunting prospect for competing teams. It would be impossible, for instance, that the visitors could have gone 17-0 down to the Springboks and come galloping back in the way they did in their fixture. Notwithstanding England’s last-quarter improvement, there still exists a journey ahead before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be assured of standing up to Erasmus’s green-clad giants with high stakes.

European Prospects

Beating an Pacific Island team was challenging on the weekend although the upcoming showdown against the the Kiwis will be the contest that truly shapes their end-of-year series. The All Blacks are definitely still beatable, especially missing their key midfielder in their backline, but when it comes to taking their chances they remain a step ahead almost all the European sides.

The Thistles were notably at fault of failing to hammer home the decisive blows and uncertainties still apply to England’s perfect backline combination. It is fine ending matches well – and infinitely better than losing them late on – but their notable undefeated streak this year has so far featured only one win over top-drawer opposition, a narrow win over France in the winter.

Looking Ahead

Hence the significance of this upround. Reading between the lines it would appear various alterations are anticipated in the matchday squad, with established stars returning to the side. In the pack, likewise, regular starters should return from the beginning.

But context is key, in rugby as in life. From now until the upcoming world championship the {rest