🔗 Share this article

A number of triumphs deliver twofold importance in the statement they broadcast. Within the barrage of weekend Test matches, it was Saturday night's score in Paris that will resonate most enduringly across the globe. Not merely the end result, but the way the style of achievement. To claim that the Springboks shattered several widely-held assumptions would be an oversimplification of the season.

Shifting Momentum

Forget about the theory, for example, that the French team would make amends for the injustice of their World Cup elimination. Assuming that going into the final quarter with a small margin and an numerical superiority would translate into inevitable glory. Despite missing their key player Antoine Dupont, they still had more than enough strategies to keep the powerful opponents under control.

Instead, it was a case of assuming victory prematurely. Having been trailing by four points, the 14-man Boks ended up scoring 19 unanswered points, confirming their standing as a side who increasingly save their best for the most demanding circumstances. While overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in earlier this year was a message, here was conclusive proof that the world’s No 1 side are cultivating an more robust mentality.

Set-Piece Superiority

If anything, Rassie Erasmus’s champion Bok forwards are increasingly make opposing sides look less committed by contrast. Scotland and England both had their moments over the two-day period but did not have the same dominant forwards that effectively reduced France to ruins in the final thirty minutes. Some promising young home nation players are emerging but, by the end, the match was hommes contre garçons.

What was perhaps even more striking was the mental strength underpinning it all. Without Lood de Jager – given a red card in the first half for a dangerous contact of the opposition kicker – the South Africans could potentially faltered. On the contrary they merely regrouped and set about taking the disheartened boys in blue to what one former French international referred to as “a place of suffering.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Post-game, having been hoisted around the venue on the immense frames of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to mark his 100th cap, the South African skipper, Siya Kolisi, repeatedly emphasized how many of his players have been required to rise above personal challenges and how he aspired his team would in the same way continue to motivate others.

The insightful an analyst also made an astute comment on television, stating that the coach's achievements increasingly make him the parallel figure of Sir Alex Ferguson. In the event that the world champions do go on to secure another global trophy there will be absolute certainty. Even if they come up short, the intelligent way in which the coach has revitalized a possibly veteran squad has been an exemplary model to all.

New Generation

Consider his 23-year-old fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who skipped over for the closing score that properly blew open the home defense. Or another half-back, a second half-back with lightning acceleration and an even sharper ability to spot openings. Of course it is an advantage to play behind a gargantuan pack, with André Esterhuizen providing support, but the steady transformation of the Springboks from scowling heavyweights into a squad who can also move with agility and sting like bees is hugely impressive.

Glimpses of French Quality

Which is not to say that the home side were totally outclassed, despite their weak ending. Damian Penaud’s additional score in the far side was a prime instance. The set-piece strength that engaged the visiting eight, the excellent wide ball from Ramos and the try-scorer's execution into the advertising hoardings all demonstrated the traits of a squad with significant talent, without their star man.

However, that turned out to be insufficient, which is a humbling reality for all other nations. It is inconceivable, for instance, that the Scottish side could have fallen behind by 17 points to the Springboks and fought back in the way they did against the All Blacks. And for all the red rose's last-quarter improvement, there still exists a journey ahead before the national side can be assured of competing with the South African powerhouses with all at stake.

Home Nations' Tests

Overcoming an developing Fijian side posed difficulties on the weekend although the forthcoming clash against the the Kiwis will be the fixture that truly shapes their autumn. New Zealand are not invincible, notably absent an influential back in their midfield, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they remain a level above almost all the northern hemisphere teams.

The Thistles were notably at fault of failing to hammer home the killing points and question marks still surround the red rose's ideal backline blend. It is acceptable ending matches well – and much preferable than succumbing at the death – but their admirable nine-match unbeaten run this year has so far included just a single victory over top-drawer opposition, a one-point home victory over the French in the winter.

Next Steps

Thus the weight of this upround. Interpreting the signals it would seem a number of adjustments are expected in the team selection, with established stars being reinstated to the team. Among the forwards, similarly, regular starters should all be back from the beginning.

But everything is relative, in sport as in reality. In the lead-up to the upcoming world championship the {rest