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Certain wins carry dual importance in the lesson they convey. Within the flood of weekend rugby Tests, it was the Saturday evening result in the French capital that will echo most enduringly across the globe. Not merely the end result, but the way the approach of victory. To say that South Africa shattered various established theories would be an modest description of the season.

Shifting Momentum

So much for the idea, for example, that the French team would avenge the disappointment of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. That entering the final quarter with a small margin and an additional player would translate into certain victory. That even without their talisman their captain, they still had more than enough resources to restrain the big beasts at a distance.

On the contrary, it was a case of assuming victory prematurely. Having been behind on the scoreboard, the reduced Springboks ended up scoring 19 unanswered points, strengthening their status as a team who more and more save their best for the most challenging scenarios. If defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in September was a message, now came definitive evidence that the world’s No 1 side are developing an greater resilience.

Pack Power

In fact, Rassie Erasmus’s title-winning pack are beginning to make everyone else look laissez-faire by comparison. The Scottish and English sides experienced their promising spells over the recent fixtures but possessed nothing like the same earthmovers that effectively reduced the French pack to ruins in the last half-hour. A number of talented young France's pack members are developing but, by the final whistle, the match was hommes contre garçons.

Perhaps most impressive was the mental strength supporting it all. Without Lood de Jager – given a 38th-minute straight red for a shoulder to the head of Thomas Ramos – the Springboks could easily have become disorganized. On the contrary they simply regrouped and set about taking the demoralized French side to what one former French international called “a place of suffering.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Post-game, having been borne aloft around the venue on the powerful backs of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to mark his century of appearances, the South African skipper, the flanker, once again stressed how several of his players have been needed to conquer life difficulties and how he aspired his side would in the same way continue to motivate people.

The perceptive a commentator also made an perceptive observation on broadcast, proposing that Erasmus’s record more and more make him the rugby's version of the legendary football manager. If South Africa manage to secure another global trophy there will be no doubt whatsoever. In case they come up short, the smart way in which Erasmus has rejuvenated a possibly veteran roster has been an masterclass to all.

Young Stars

Take for example his emerging number 10 the newcomer who skipped over for the decisive touchdown that effectively shattered the French windows. Or another half-back, another playmaker with blistering pace and an more acute eye for a gap. Undoubtedly it is an advantage to play behind a massive forward unit, with André Esterhuizen riding shotgun, but the continuing evolution of the Boks from scowling heavyweights into a side who can also move with agility and deliver telling blows is remarkable.

Home Side's Moments

Which is not to say that the French team were utterly overwhelmed, notwithstanding their fading performance. Damian Penaud’s additional score in the wing area was a good illustration. The set-piece strength that tied in the South African pack, the glorious long pass from the playmaker and Penaud’s finishing dive into the advertising hoardings all exhibited the hallmarks of a side with notable skill, despite missing Dupont.

Yet that ultimately proved insufficient, which really is a daunting prospect for competing teams. It is inconceivable, for instance, that the visitors could have gone 17-0 down to the Springboks and come galloping back in the way they did against the All Blacks. Notwithstanding England’s strong finish, there still exists a distance to travel before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be confident of facing Erasmus’s green-clad giants with all at stake.

European Prospects

Defeating an Pacific Island team posed difficulties on the weekend although the next encounter against the New Zealand will be the contest that properly defines their November Tests. The All Blacks are definitely still beatable, particularly without an influential back in their midfield, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they are still a step ahead most the European sides.

The Scottish team were notably at fault of missing the chance to secure the killing points and doubts still surround the English side's perfect backline combination. It is fine performing in the final quarter – and much preferable than losing them late on – but their notable winning sequence this year has so far shown just one success over top-drawer opposition, a close result over Les Bleus in the winter.

Next Steps

Hence the weight of this upround. Interpreting the signals it would appear various alterations are anticipated in the team selection, with experienced individuals being reinstated to the side. In the pack, in the same way, regular starters should return from the start.

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