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A number of triumphs deliver twofold significance in the lesson they broadcast. Among the flurry of weekend rugby Tests, it was Saturday night's result in the French capital that will linger most enduringly across the rugby world. Not only the final score, but also the style of victory. To suggest that the Springboks shattered a number of comfortable theories would be an understatement of the season.

Surprising Comeback

Discard the idea, for example, that France would make amends for the injustice of their World Cup elimination. The belief that entering the closing stages with a small margin and an additional player would translate into assumed success. Despite missing their star man their scrum-half, they still had ample resources to keep the strong rivals safely at bay.

On the contrary, it was a case of counting their poulets prematurely. Having been trailing by four points, the 14-man Boks finished by scoring 19 unanswered points, reinforcing their status as a side who more and more save their best for the most challenging situations. While beating New Zealand 43-10 in September was a message, this was definitive evidence that the leading international squad are building an even thicker skin.

Pack Power

If anything, the coach's title-winning pack are starting to make everyone else look less committed by contrast. The Scottish and English sides each enjoyed their promising spells over the weekend but possessed nothing like the same powerful carriers that effectively reduced the home side to landfill in the final thirty minutes. A number of talented young home nation players are developing but, by the final whistle, Saturday night was a mismatch in experience.

Even more notable was the psychological resilience supporting it all. Without their lock forward – issued a red card in the first half for a dangerous contact of Thomas Ramos – the Springboks could potentially faltered. As it happened they simply regrouped and proceeded to dragging the deflated home team to what one former French international described as “extreme physical pressure.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Following the match, having been hoisted around the venue on the powerful backs of the lock pairing to honor his hundredth Test, the Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi, yet again emphasized how many of his players have been required to rise above personal challenges and how he wished his squad would likewise continue to inspire others.

The insightful David Flatman also made an shrewd comment on television, proposing that Erasmus’s record more and more make him the parallel figure of the Manchester United great. If South Africa succeed in win a third successive World Cup there will be absolute certainty. Should they fall short, the intelligent way in which Erasmus has revitalized a possibly veteran squad has been an object lesson to other teams.

Emerging Talent

Take for example his young playmaker the rising star who sprinted past for the decisive touchdown that properly blew open the opposition line. And also Grant Williams, a second playmaker with lightning acceleration and an even sharper vision for space. Naturally it is beneficial to have the support of a dominant set of forwards, with the inside back providing support, but the steady transformation of the South African team from physically imposing units into a team who can also display finesse and strike decisively is extraordinary.

Home Side's Moments

Which is not to say that France were totally outclassed, in spite of their limp finish. The wing's additional score in the right corner was a prime instance. The power up front that engaged the visiting eight, the excellent wide ball from Ramos and the try-scorer's execution into the advertising hoardings all displayed the characteristics of a team with considerable ability, despite missing their star man.

However, that ultimately proved inadequate, which is a daunting prospect for competing teams. It is inconceivable, for example, that the visitors could have fallen behind by 17 points to the world champions and mounted a comeback in the way they did in their fixture. Notwithstanding England’s last-quarter improvement, there is a distance to travel before the national side can be confident of competing with the world's top team with high stakes.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Beating an improving Fiji posed difficulties on Saturday although the forthcoming clash against the New Zealand will be the fixture that truly shapes their end-of-year series. The visitors are not invincible, especially missing their key midfielder in their center, but when it comes to taking their chances they remain a step ahead the majority of the northern hemisphere teams.

The Scottish team were especially culpable of not finishing off the decisive blows and uncertainties still surround the red rose's ideal backline blend. It is fine ending matches well – and infinitely better than succumbing at the death – but their notable undefeated streak this year has so far featured only one win over top-drawer opposition, a one-point home victory over the French in February.

Future Prospects

Therefore the importance of this next weekend. Analyzing the situation it would appear several changes are expected in the team selection, with key players being reinstated to the team. Among the forwards, similarly, familiar faces should be included from the beginning.

Yet everything is relative, in sport as in life. From now until the upcoming world championship the {rest