🔗 Share this article

Certain wins send twofold weight in the statement they convey. Within the flurry of weekend Test matches, it was the Saturday evening result in Paris that will linger longest across the globe. Not just the end result, but equally the manner of victory. To say that South Africa demolished several comfortable assumptions would be an understatement of the rugby year.

Unexpected Turnaround

Forget about the theory, for instance, that France would avenge the injustice of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. The belief that entering the closing stages with a narrow lead and an extra man would lead to certain victory. Despite missing their star man their scrum-half, they still had more than enough tranquiliser darts to keep the big beasts under control.

Instead, it was a case of counting their poulets too early. Having been trailing by four points, the South African side with a player sent off concluded with scoring 19 unanswered points, reinforcing their reputation as a team who increasingly reserve their top performance for the most demanding circumstances. Whereas beating New Zealand 43-10 in earlier this year was a declaration, here was conclusive proof that the world’s No 1 side are building an even thicker skin.

Forward Dominance

Actually, the coach's experienced front eight are beginning to make opposing sides look less committed by comparison. The Scottish and English sides both had their promising spells over the two-day period but lacked entirely the same earthmovers that systematically dismantled the home side to rubble in the final thirty minutes. Several up-and-coming young France's pack members are coming through but, by the conclusion, Saturday night was men against boys.

What was perhaps even more striking was the mental strength driving it all. In the absence of the second-rower – issued a red card in the first half for a shoulder to the head of the French full-back – the South Africans could easily have lost their composure. As it happened they just united and proceeded to pulling the deflated boys in blue to what an ex-France player referred to as “a place of suffering.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Afterwards, having been borne aloft around the Stade de France on the immense frames of the lock pairing to mark his century of appearances, the team leader, the flanker, once again emphasized how many of his squad have been required to rise above off-field adversity and how he aspired his squad would likewise continue to motivate people.

The perceptive David Flatman also made an perceptive point on broadcast, proposing that Erasmus’s record more and more make him the parallel figure of the Manchester United great. Should the Springboks manage to secure another global trophy there will be no doubt whatsoever. Should they fail to achieve it, the intelligent way in which the mentor has revitalized a experienced squad has been an object lesson to other teams.

Young Stars

Look no further than his young playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who darted through for the late try that properly blew open the French windows. Or another half-back, another playmaker with blistering pace and an more acute eye for a gap. Naturally it helps to have the support of a dominant set of forwards, with the powerful center providing support, but the steady transformation of the Boks from intimidating giants into a team who can also display finesse and strike decisively is remarkable.

Home Side's Moments

Which is not to say that France were totally outclassed, notwithstanding their weak ending. Their winger's additional score in the far side was a clear example. The power up front that occupied the South African pack, the superb distribution from the playmaker and Penaud’s finishing dive into the sideline boards all displayed the characteristics of a squad with significant talent, without Dupont.

However, that in the end was insufficient, which is a sobering thought for all other nations. It would be impossible, for example, that the Scottish side could have fallen behind by 17 points to the Springboks and mounted a comeback in the way they did against the All Blacks. Notwithstanding the English team's last-quarter improvement, there is a distance to travel before the national side can be assured of competing with Erasmus’s green-clad giants with high stakes.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Beating an Pacific Island team was challenging on match day although the forthcoming clash against the the Kiwis will be the fixture that properly defines their end-of-year series. New Zealand are definitely still beatable, notably absent Jordie Barrett in their backline, but when it comes to converting pressure into points they remain a step ahead almost all the European sides.

The Scottish team were especially culpable of failing to hammer home the killing points and doubts still apply to the English side's optimal back division. It is all very well ending matches well – and much preferable than fading in the closing stages – but their admirable winning sequence this year has so far featured only one win over world-class sides, a one-point home victory over Les Bleus in earlier in the year.

Next Steps

Therefore the significance of this upround. Reading between the lines it would seem various alterations are expected in the team selection, with key players coming back to the side. Up front, in the same way, regular starters should all be back from the outset.

However everything is relative, in sport as in existence. From now until the next global tournament the {rest