🔗 Share this article

Some victories carry twofold weight in the message they convey. Within the flurry of weekend rugby Tests, it was Saturday night's outcome in the French capital that will echo most enduringly across the globe. Not only the conclusion, but equally the manner of victory. To claim that South Africa shattered various widely-held assumptions would be an understatement of the season.

Shifting Momentum

Discard the idea, for instance, that the French team would make amends for 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 assumed success. Despite missing their talisman their scrum-half, they still had sufficient tranquiliser darts to restrain the big beasts at a distance.

Instead, it was a case of assuming victory before time. Having been behind on the scoreboard, the 14-man Boks finished by racking up 19 points without reply, strengthening their status as a squad who consistently reserve their top performance for the most challenging situations. While beating New Zealand 43-10 in the last quarter was a declaration, now came definitive evidence that the top-ranked team are building an more robust mentality.

Forward Dominance

Actually, the coach's experienced front eight are starting to make all other teams look less intense by contrast. Both northern hemisphere teams experienced their periods of promise over the two-day period but possessed nothing like the same earthmovers that thoroughly overwhelmed France to ruins in the final thirty minutes. Some promising young France's pack members are emerging but, by the final whistle, the match was men against boys.

Even more notable was the inner fortitude driving it all. Without Lood de Jager – given a 38th-minute straight red for a shoulder to the head of the opposition kicker – the South Africans could potentially lost their composure. Instead they simply united and began pulling the demoralized boys in blue to what a retired hooker called “extreme physical pressure.”

Guidance and Example

Afterwards, having been borne aloft around the venue on the gigantic shoulders of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to celebrate his 100th cap, the Springbok captain, the inspirational figure, once again highlighted how a significant number of his team have been needed to conquer personal challenges and how he hoped his side would in the same way continue to encourage people.

The perceptive David Flatman also made an perceptive comment on broadcast, proposing that Erasmus’s record increasingly make him the rugby coaching equivalent of the Manchester United great. In the event that the world champions manage to claim a third straight world title there will be no doubt whatsoever. Even if they fall short, the clever way in which Erasmus has rejuvenated a experienced team has been an masterclass to other teams.

New Generation

Consider his young playmaker the newcomer who darted through for the late try that decisively broke the French windows. Additionally the scrum-half, a further playmaker with lightning acceleration and an even sharper ability to spot openings. Naturally it helps to operate behind a massive forward unit, with André Esterhuizen riding shotgun, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the Springboks from physically imposing units into a side who can also move with agility and strike decisively is remarkable.

Glimpses of French Quality

This is not to imply that the French team were totally outclassed, despite their fading performance. The wing's second try in the wing area was a good illustration. The set-piece strength that tied in the Bok forwards, the excellent wide ball from Ramos and the try-scorer's execution into the advertising hoardings all displayed the hallmarks of a team with notable skill, without their star man.

But even that ultimately proved inadequate, which is a daunting prospect for everybody else. It would be impossible, for instance, that the visitors could have trailed heavily to South Africa and mounted a comeback in the way they did in their fixture. Notwithstanding the English team's late resurgence, there remains a journey ahead before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be confident of facing Erasmus’s green-clad giants with everything on the line.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Overcoming an improving Fiji proved tricky enough on match day although the upcoming showdown against the New Zealand will be the contest that properly defines their autumn. The All Blacks are definitely still beatable, especially missing their key midfielder in their midfield, but when it comes to converting pressure into points they are still a level above most the home unions.

The Thistles were especially culpable of missing the chance to secure the decisive blows and doubts still hang over the red rose's perfect backline combination. It is all very well performing in the final quarter – and far superior than fading in the closing stages – but their commendable winning sequence this year has so far included just a single victory over top-drawer opposition, a narrow win over Les Bleus in earlier in the year.

Next Steps

Therefore the significance of this upround. Interpreting the signals it would look like a number of adjustments are likely in the matchday squad, with established stars coming back to the side. Up front, in the same way, first-choice players should all be back from the start.

Yet everything is relative, in competition as in reality. In the lead-up to the next global tournament the {rest