🔗 Share this article

Some victories deliver double significance in the message they convey. Within the flood of weekend rugby Tests, it was the Saturday evening result in Paris that will resonate most enduringly across the globe. Not only the conclusion, but equally the approach of victory. To suggest that South Africa shattered various widely-held theories would be an modest description of the rugby year.

Unexpected Turnaround

Discard the notion, for example, that France would make amends for the injustice of their World Cup elimination. That entering the last period with a slight advantage and an additional player would result in inevitable glory. Even in the absence of their key player their scrum-half, they still had ample strategies to keep the strong rivals at a distance.

As it turned out, it was a case of celebrating too soon before time. Initially 17-13 down, the South African side with a player sent off ended up racking up 19 points without reply, strengthening their standing as a team who increasingly save their best for the toughest circumstances. While overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in earlier this year was a declaration, this was conclusive proof that the top-ranked team are building an even thicker skin.

Pack Power

If anything, Rassie Erasmus’s title-winning pack are beginning to make everyone else look less committed by contrast. Scotland and England each enjoyed their moments over the weekend but possessed nothing like the same earthmovers that effectively reduced the home side to ruins in the last half-hour. Some promising young home nation players are emerging but, by the final whistle, the match was hommes contre garçons.

What was perhaps even more striking was the mental strength underpinning it all. Without the second-rower – given a red card in the first half for a shoulder to the head of the opposition kicker – the South Africans could might well have become disorganized. On the contrary they simply united and proceeded to dragging the deflated boys in blue to what one former French international described as “extreme physical pressure.”

Guidance and Example

Post-game, having been borne aloft around the venue on the gigantic shoulders of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to mark his 100th cap, the team leader, the inspirational figure, once again highlighted how several of his players have been needed to rise above life difficulties and how he aspired his team would likewise continue to encourage others.

The ever-sage David Flatman also made an perceptive observation on television, proposing that the coach's achievements more and more make him the parallel figure of Sir Alex Ferguson. Should the Springboks manage to win a third successive World Cup there will be complete assurance. In case they come up short, the smart way in which the mentor has revitalized a possibly veteran team has been an masterclass to everyone.

New Generation

Consider his young playmaker the rising star who sprinted past for the late try that effectively shattered the French windows. And also another half-back, another backline player with blistering pace and an even sharper eye for a gap. Undoubtedly it is beneficial to have the support of a dominant set of forwards, with the powerful center providing support, but the steady transformation of the Springboks from physically imposing units into a squad who can also move with agility and sting like bees is remarkable.

French Flashes

Which is not to say that France were completely dominated, notwithstanding their limp finish. The wing's second try in the wing area was a prime instance. The set-piece strength that engaged the Bok forwards, the excellent wide ball from the playmaker and the try-scorer's execution into the advertising hoardings all exhibited the hallmarks of a team with considerable ability, despite missing Dupont.

Yet that ultimately proved insufficient, which truly represents a daunting prospect for everybody else. It would be impossible, for instance, that Scotland could have trailed heavily to the Springboks and fought back in the way they did versus New Zealand. Despite England’s last-quarter improvement, there is a journey ahead before the national side can be assured of facing Erasmus’s green-clad giants with everything on the line.

Home Nations' Tests

Defeating an developing Fijian side proved tricky enough on the weekend although the upcoming showdown against the All Blacks will be the fixture that properly defines their end-of-year series. The All Blacks are certainly vulnerable, notably absent their key midfielder in their center, but when it comes to converting pressure into points they continue to be a cut above almost all the northern hemisphere teams.

Scotland were especially culpable of failing to hammer home the decisive blows and uncertainties still apply to England’s ideal backline blend. It is fine performing in the final quarter – and much preferable than fading in the closing stages – but their commendable winning sequence this year has so far included just a single victory over elite-level teams, a narrow win over the French in the winter.

Next Steps

Therefore the weight of this next weekend. Reading between the lines it would seem a number of adjustments are anticipated in the team selection, with key players coming back to the lineup. In the pack, likewise, regular starters should all be back from the outset.

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