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Some victories deliver dual significance in the message they convey. Among the flurry of weekend rugby Tests, it was Saturday night's result in Paris that will echo most profoundly across the globe. Not just the end result, but equally the style of success. To claim that South Africa shattered several comfortable assumptions would be an oversimplification of the calendar.

Unexpected Turnaround

Discard the notion, for instance, that the French team would avenge the unfairness of their World Cup last-eight loss. Assuming that going into the closing stages with a slight advantage and an additional player would lead to inevitable glory. That even without their key player Antoine Dupont, they still had ample strategies to keep the powerful opponents safely at bay.

As it turned out, it was a case of counting their poulets too early. Initially behind on the scoreboard, the South African side with a player sent off finished by racking up 19 points without reply, reinforcing their standing as a team who consistently reserve their top performance for the most demanding circumstances. While overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in the last quarter was a message, here was clear demonstration that the leading international squad are cultivating an even thicker skin.

Forward Dominance

In fact, Rassie Erasmus’s champion Bok forwards are increasingly make all other teams look laissez-faire by comparison. The Scottish and English sides both had their promising spells over the recent fixtures but did not have the same earthmovers that systematically dismantled France to ruins in the final thirty minutes. Some promising young home nation players are emerging but, by the end, Saturday night was hommes contre garçons.

Perhaps most impressive was the mental strength driving it all. Missing the second-rower – shown a red card in the first half for a high tackle of the French full-back – the Springboks could potentially lost their composure. On the contrary they simply circled the wagons and set about taking the demoralized boys in blue to what one former French international referred to as “extreme physical pressure.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Post-game, having been carried around the Parisian stadium on the powerful backs of two key forwards to celebrate his hundredth Test, the South African skipper, the flanker, once again emphasized how many of his players have been obliged to overcome off-field adversity and how he hoped his team would in the same way continue to encourage others.

The insightful David Flatman also made an perceptive observation on broadcast, suggesting that his results increasingly make him the rugby coaching equivalent of the legendary football manager. If South Africa do go on to claim a third straight world title there will be no doubt whatsoever. Should they come up short, the intelligent way in which the mentor has revitalized a possibly veteran roster has been an masterclass to other teams.

New Generation

Consider his emerging number 10 the rising star who darted through for the closing score that decisively broke the home defense. Or the scrum-half, another half-back with explosive speed and an even sharper vision for space. Undoubtedly it is an advantage to have the support of a massive forward unit, with André Esterhuizen adding physicality, but the steady transformation of the South African team from physically imposing units into a side who can also display finesse and sting like bees is remarkable.

French Flashes

However, it should not be thought that the home side were totally outclassed, notwithstanding their weak ending. Their winger's second try in the far side was a prime instance. The power up front that occupied the South African pack, the excellent wide ball from Ramos and the winger's clinical finish into the perimeter signage all displayed the characteristics of a team with notable skill, without their captain.

But even that in the end was insufficient, which truly represents a sobering thought for everybody else. It would be impossible, for example, that the Scottish side could have trailed heavily to South Africa and come galloping back in the way they did in their fixture. Despite the English team's strong finish, there remains a distance to travel before the national side can be certain of facing the world's top team with everything on the line.

European Prospects

Beating an Pacific Island team was challenging on match day although the upcoming showdown against the All Blacks will be the match that properly defines their November Tests. The All Blacks 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 the majority of the northern hemisphere teams.

The Thistles were notably at fault of missing the chance to secure the decisive blows and question marks still hang over the English side's ideal backline blend. It is fine finishing games strongly – and much preferable than losing them late on – but their commendable nine-match unbeaten run this year has so far included just a single victory over world-class sides, a close result over the French in February.

Looking Ahead

Thus the significance of this upround. Reading between the lines it would look like a number of adjustments are anticipated in the team selection, with experienced individuals returning to the lineup. In the pack, likewise, regular starters should all be back from the beginning.

But everything is relative, in competition as in reality. From now until the upcoming world championship the {rest