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Certain wins send twofold significance in the lesson they convey. Within the flood of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was the Saturday evening outcome in the French capital that will resonate most profoundly across the globe. Not just the conclusion, but equally the style of achievement. To suggest that South Africa demolished various comfortable theories would be an oversimplification of the calendar.

Unexpected Turnaround

Discard the notion, for instance, that France would make amends for the disappointment of their World Cup last-eight loss. That entering the last period with a narrow lead and an numerical superiority would lead to assumed success. Despite missing their talisman Antoine Dupont, they still had more than enough resources to contain the strong rivals safely at bay.

On the contrary, it was a case of counting their poulets before time. Having been behind on the scoreboard, the 14-man Boks ended up racking up 19 points without reply, strengthening their status as a team who more and more reserve their top performance for the toughest situations. Whereas beating New Zealand 43-10 in the last quarter was a message, now came definitive evidence that the leading international squad are developing an even thicker skin.

Forward Dominance

In fact, Rassie Erasmus’s champion Bok forwards are increasingly make all other teams look less committed by contrast. The Scottish and English sides each enjoyed their moments over the weekend but lacked entirely the same dominant forwards that effectively reduced the French pack to rubble in the final thirty minutes. A number of talented 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 inner fortitude underpinning it all. In the absence of Lood de Jager – shown a red card in the first half for a dangerous contact of Thomas Ramos – the South Africans could easily have become disorganized. Instead they just united and proceeded to dragging the disheartened home team to what an ex-France player referred to as “a place of suffering.”

Guidance and Example

Afterwards, having been borne aloft around the venue on the immense frames of two key forwards to celebrate his 100th cap, the Springbok captain, the flanker, yet again emphasized how several of his team have been needed to rise above life difficulties and how he hoped his team would in the same way continue to encourage others.

The perceptive David Flatman also made an astute comment on sports media, suggesting that Erasmus’s record increasingly make him the rugby coaching equivalent of the Manchester United great. If South Africa do go on to claim a third straight world title there will be no doubt whatsoever. Should they fall short, the clever way in which the mentor has rejuvenated a possibly veteran team has been an object lesson to other teams.

Young Stars

Take for example his 23-year-old fly-half the rising star who skipped over for the late try that effectively shattered the home defense. Or the scrum-half, a further playmaker with lightning acceleration and an more acute ability to spot openings. Undoubtedly it is beneficial to operate behind a dominant set of forwards, with the inside back adding physicality, but the continuing evolution of the Boks from physically imposing units into a team who can also display finesse and deliver telling blows is hugely impressive.

French Flashes

This is not to imply that the home side were utterly overwhelmed, despite their weak ending. The wing's additional score in the right corner was a prime instance. The power up front that engaged the South African pack, the excellent wide ball from Ramos and the try-scorer's execution into the sideline boards all exhibited the hallmarks of a side with notable skill, even in the absence of their star man.

However, that in the end was insufficient, which truly represents a sobering thought for everybody else. It is inconceivable, for instance, that the visitors could have trailed heavily to the Springboks and mounted a comeback in the way they did in their fixture. Despite England’s last-quarter improvement, there remains a gap to close before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be confident of facing the South African powerhouses with everything on the line.

Home Nations' Tests

Overcoming an Pacific Island team proved tricky enough on match day although the next encounter against the New Zealand will be the fixture that truly shapes their end-of-year series. The All Blacks are definitely still beatable, especially missing Jordie Barrett in their center, but when it comes to converting pressure into points they remain a step ahead most the northern hemisphere teams.

Scotland were notably at fault of missing the chance to secure the decisive blows and question marks still surround England’s perfect backline combination. It is fine ending matches well – and far superior than losing them late on – but their notable winning sequence this year has so far included just a single victory over world-class sides, a one-point home victory over the French in February.

Future Prospects

Thus the weight of this next weekend. Reading between the lines it would appear various alterations are likely in the matchday squad, with established stars coming back to the lineup. In the pack, in the same way, regular starters should return from the beginning.

But perspective matters, in rugby as in existence. Between now and the 2027 World Cup the {rest