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Certain wins carry double significance in the statement they communicate. Among the flood of weekend Test matches, it was the Saturday evening outcome in Paris that will resonate most enduringly across the rugby world. Not just the conclusion, but the way the approach of achievement. To suggest that South Africa shattered several established assumptions would be an modest description of the calendar.

Unexpected Turnaround

Forget about the notion, for instance, that the French team would avenge the injustice of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. The belief that entering the closing stages with a slight advantage and an additional player would lead to certain victory. Even in the absence of their key player their captain, they still had more than enough strategies to contain the big beasts under control.

On the contrary, it was a case of counting their poulets before time. Initially trailing by four points, the South African side with a player sent off finished by registering 19 consecutive points, confirming their reputation as a side who more and more save their best for the toughest situations. If overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in September was a message, here was definitive evidence that the top-ranked team are cultivating an more robust mentality.

Set-Piece Superiority

Actually, Erasmus's champion Bok forwards are beginning to make all other teams look less intense by contrast. The Scottish and English sides experienced their moments over the two-day period but possessed nothing like the same earthmovers that effectively reduced the French pack to ruins in the final thirty minutes. Some promising young French forwards are coming through but, by the final whistle, the encounter was hommes contre garçons.

What was perhaps even more striking was the psychological resilience driving it all. In the absence of their lock forward – issued a red card in the first half for a shoulder to the head of the opposition kicker – the Springboks could might well have become disorganized. As it happened they merely regrouped and proceeded to dragging the deflated boys in blue to what an ex-France player described as “the hurt locker.”

Guidance and Example

Following the match, having been carried around the venue on the powerful backs of two key forwards to celebrate his century of appearances, the team leader, Siya Kolisi, repeatedly highlighted how many of his players have been needed to conquer personal challenges and how he aspired his team would similarly continue to motivate fans.

The perceptive a commentator also made an perceptive observation on television, proposing that the coach's achievements increasingly make him the rugby coaching equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson. Should the Springboks do go on to secure another global trophy there will be absolute certainty. Even if they fail to achieve it, the smart way in which the coach has revitalized a potentially ageing squad has been an exemplary model to other teams.

New Generation

Take for example his young playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who skipped over for the closing score that effectively shattered the French windows. And also Grant Williams, a further half-back with explosive speed and an more acute eye for a gap. Of course it is beneficial to have the support of a gargantuan pack, with André Esterhuizen adding physicality, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the Springboks from scowling heavyweights 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 French team were completely dominated, notwithstanding their fading performance. Damian Penaud’s later touchdown in the far side was a prime instance. The forward dominance that engaged the South African pack, the excellent wide ball from the full-back and Penaud’s finishing dive into the advertising hoardings all exhibited the traits of a squad with considerable ability, even in the absence of their captain.

However, that ultimately proved not enough, which truly represents a humbling reality for competing teams. It is inconceivable, for instance, that Scotland 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 last-quarter improvement, there still exists a journey ahead before the England team can be certain of facing the world's top team with high stakes.

Home Nations' Tests

Defeating an improving Fiji posed difficulties on Saturday although the next encounter against the the Kiwis will be the contest that properly defines their autumn. The visitors are not invincible, notably absent an influential back in their backline, but when it comes to taking their chances they are still a step ahead most the home unions.

The Scottish team were especially culpable of failing to hammer home the final nails and question marks still hang over England’s perfect backline combination. It is fine performing in the final quarter – and infinitely better than fading in the closing stages – but their commendable undefeated streak this year has so far featured only one win over top-drawer opposition, a close result over the French in the winter.

Looking Ahead

Thus the weight of this next weekend. Reading between the lines it would appear a number of adjustments are expected in the team selection, with key players being reinstated to the lineup. Among the forwards, similarly, regular starters should return from the beginning.

Yet perspective matters, in rugby as in reality. In the lead-up to the upcoming world championship the {rest