🔗 Share this article

Some victories send twofold significance in the message they communicate. Amid the flood of weekend Test matches, it was Saturday night's outcome in Paris that will linger most enduringly across both hemispheres. Not only the end result, but equally the manner of achievement. To claim that South Africa demolished a number of widely-held theories would be an oversimplification of the season.

Unexpected Turnaround

So much for the idea, for example, that the French team would make amends for the unfairness of their World Cup last-eight loss. Assuming that going into the final quarter with a narrow lead and an extra man would lead to inevitable glory. Even in the absence of their talisman their scrum-half, they still had sufficient tranquiliser darts to contain the strong rivals at a distance.

Instead, it was a case of celebrating too soon prematurely. Initially 17-13 down, the South African side with a player sent off finished by scoring 19 unanswered points, strengthening their standing as a team who consistently reserve their top performance for the most challenging circumstances. If beating New Zealand 43-10 in September was a declaration, this was conclusive proof that the leading international squad are developing an more robust mentality.

Pack Power

If anything, the coach's title-winning pack are increasingly make opposing sides look less intense by juxtaposition. Scotland and England experienced their promising spells over the weekend but possessed nothing like the same earthmovers that thoroughly overwhelmed France to ruins in the closing period. Some promising young France's pack members are developing but, by the final whistle, the encounter was men against boys.

Perhaps most impressive was the psychological resilience driving it all. In the absence of Lood de Jager – issued a red card in the first half for a high tackle of the French full-back – the Springboks could easily have become disorganized. On the contrary they simply circled the wagons and proceeded to dragging the disheartened boys in blue to what one former French international described as “the hurt locker.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Post-game, having been borne aloft around the Stade de France on the immense frames of the lock pairing to honor his century of appearances, the team leader, Siya Kolisi, once again highlighted how a significant number of his squad have been required to rise above off-field adversity and how he hoped his squad would in the same way continue to motivate fans.

The insightful an analyst also made an perceptive observation on broadcast, suggesting that his results progressively make him the parallel figure of the legendary football manager. If South Africa do go on to secure another global trophy there will be absolute certainty. Should they fail to achieve it, the smart way in which the coach has refreshed a potentially ageing squad has been an object lesson to everyone.

Young Stars

Consider his emerging number 10 the newcomer who skipped over for the closing score that properly blew open the French windows. Or the scrum-half, another half-back with lightning acceleration and an even sharper ability to spot openings. Naturally it is an advantage to play behind a massive forward unit, with André Esterhuizen providing support, but the continuing evolution of the Boks from intimidating giants into a team who can also display finesse and deliver telling blows is extraordinary.

Home Side's Moments

However, it should not be thought that the French team were completely dominated, despite their fading performance. Damian Penaud’s second try in the wing area was a good illustration. The power up front that engaged the Bok forwards, the excellent wide ball from the full-back and Penaud’s finishing dive into the sideline boards all exhibited the traits of a side with notable skill, without their star man.

But even that ultimately proved not enough, which really is a sobering thought for competing teams. It would be impossible, for instance, that the visitors could have trailed heavily to the world champions and mounted a comeback in the way they did against the All Blacks. Despite England’s late resurgence, there is a gap to close before the national side can be confident of competing with Erasmus’s green-clad giants with all at stake.

European Prospects

Defeating an developing Fijian side was challenging on Saturday although the upcoming showdown against the the Kiwis will be the fixture that accurately reflects their end-of-year series. The visitors are definitely still beatable, especially missing their key midfielder in their midfield, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they remain a level above the majority of the home unions.

The Scottish team were notably at fault of failing to hammer home the killing points and question marks still apply to the red rose's perfect backline combination. It is acceptable finishing games strongly – and infinitely better than succumbing at the death – but their commendable winning sequence this year has so far included just a single victory over world-class sides, a close result over France in the winter.

Next Steps

Hence the importance of this upround. Reading between the lines it would appear various alterations are likely in the starting lineup, with key players returning to the side. Among the forwards, similarly, first-choice players should be included from the beginning.

However context is key, in rugby as in existence. Between now and the 2027 World Cup the {rest