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Some victories deliver dual significance in the lesson they communicate. Amid the flurry of weekend rugby Tests, it was the Saturday evening result in Paris that will echo most profoundly across the globe. Not merely the final score, but the way the style of victory. To suggest that South Africa overturned various widely-held beliefs would be an oversimplification of the season.

Unexpected Turnaround

Forget about the theory, for example, that the French team would rectify the injustice of their World Cup elimination. Assuming that going into the last period with a small margin and an numerical superiority would translate into inevitable glory. Even in the absence of their talisman Antoine Dupont, they still had sufficient strategies to restrain the big beasts under control.

On the contrary, it was a case of counting their poulets prematurely. Having been 17-13 down, the reduced Springboks ended up racking up 19 points without reply, reinforcing their reputation as a squad who consistently save their best for the most demanding situations. While beating New Zealand 43-10 in earlier this year was a declaration, now came conclusive proof that the leading international squad are cultivating an even thicker skin.

Set-Piece Superiority

If anything, the coach's title-winning pack are beginning to make opposing sides look less committed by comparison. The Scottish and English sides both had their promising spells over the weekend but did not have the same powerful carriers that systematically dismantled the French pack to landfill in the last half-hour. Several up-and-coming young home nation players are coming through but, by the end, the encounter was a mismatch in experience.

Even more notable was the mental strength underpinning it all. Without the second-rower – given a dismissal before halftime for a dangerous contact of Thomas Ramos – the Boks could easily have become disorganized. Instead they merely circled the wagons and set about taking the disheartened French side to what one former French international described as “a place of suffering.”

Guidance and Example

Following the match, having been hoisted around the Parisian stadium on the gigantic shoulders of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to celebrate his hundredth Test, the South African skipper, the flanker, repeatedly emphasized how a significant number of his players have been needed to conquer life difficulties and how he hoped his side would in the same way continue to inspire fans.

The ever-sage an analyst also made an shrewd observation on sports media, suggesting that the coach's achievements progressively make him the rugby coaching equivalent of the Manchester United great. Should the Springboks succeed in win a third successive World Cup there will be absolute certainty. Should they fall short, the clever way in which the mentor has revitalized a experienced squad has been an exemplary model to other teams.

Emerging Talent

Take for example his young playmaker the newcomer who sprinted past for the late try that properly blew open the opposition line. And also the scrum-half, a further playmaker with blistering pace and an keener eye for a gap. Naturally it helps to play behind a gargantuan pack, with André Esterhuizen providing support, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the Springboks from intimidating giants into a team who can also display finesse and strike decisively is remarkable.

Glimpses of French Quality

However, it should not be thought that the home side were totally outclassed, despite their weak ending. The wing's additional score in the far side was a prime instance. The power up front that engaged the South African pack, the excellent wide ball from Ramos and Penaud’s finishing dive into the advertising hoardings all demonstrated the traits of a side with considerable ability, despite missing their star man.

But even that turned out to be insufficient, which truly represents a sobering thought for competing teams. It would be impossible, for instance, that Scotland could have trailed heavily to the world champions and fought back in the way they did in their fixture. And for all the English team's strong finish, there is a distance to travel before the national side can be certain of standing up to Erasmus’s green-clad giants with high stakes.

European Prospects

Overcoming an improving Fiji posed difficulties on Saturday although the upcoming showdown against the the Kiwis will be the match that properly defines their November Tests. The All Blacks are certainly vulnerable, notably absent an influential back in their center, but when it comes to converting pressure into points they continue to be a cut above the majority of the European sides.

The Thistles were especially culpable of failing to hammer home the killing points and doubts still surround the red rose's optimal back division. It is fine finishing games strongly – and infinitely better than succumbing at the death – but their admirable undefeated streak this year has so far included just a single victory over elite-level teams, a narrow win over France in the winter.

Looking Ahead

Therefore the importance of this next weekend. Reading between the lines it would appear a number of adjustments are likely in the team selection, with experienced individuals returning to the team. Among the forwards, in the same way, first-choice players should all be back from the beginning.

But perspective matters, in competition as in life. Between now and the next global tournament the {rest