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Certain wins carry dual significance in the lesson they convey. Among the flood of weekend rugby Tests, it was Saturday night's result in Paris that will resonate most enduringly across both hemispheres. Not only the conclusion, but equally the approach of victory. To suggest that South Africa overturned several widely-held theories would be an oversimplification of the rugby year.

Unexpected Turnaround

So much for the theory, for example, that France would make amends for the unfairness of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. That entering the final quarter with a small margin and an extra man would lead to inevitable glory. Even in the absence of their star man Antoine Dupont, they still had ample tranquiliser darts to restrain the powerful opponents at a distance.

Instead, it was a case of celebrating too soon prematurely. After being behind on the scoreboard, the 14-man Boks concluded with racking up 19 points without reply, strengthening their reputation as a team who more and more deliver their finest rugby for the most challenging circumstances. 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

If anything, the coach's experienced front eight are beginning to make opposing sides look laissez-faire by contrast. Scotland and England each enjoyed their promising spells over the recent fixtures but lacked entirely the same dominant forwards that effectively reduced the French pack to rubble in the final thirty minutes. Several up-and-coming young home nation players are emerging but, by the end, the match was a mismatch in experience.

Perhaps most impressive was the psychological resilience supporting it all. In the absence of Lood de Jager – given a red card in the first half for a dangerous contact of the French full-back – the Boks could easily have faltered. On the contrary they just circled the wagons and began pulling the demoralized boys in blue to what a retired hooker called “the hurt locker.”

Leadership and Inspiration

Afterwards, having been carried around the venue on the immense frames of the lock pairing to mark his century of appearances, the team leader, the inspirational figure, yet again stressed how several of his team have been needed to overcome off-field adversity and how he hoped his team would likewise continue to inspire fans.

The insightful David Flatman also made an astute comment on broadcast, stating that Erasmus’s record increasingly make him the rugby coaching equivalent of the legendary football manager. If South Africa manage to win a third successive World Cup there will be absolute certainty. Even if they come up short, the clever way in which Erasmus has refreshed a possibly veteran roster has been an exemplary model to other teams.

Emerging Talent

Consider his young playmaker the newcomer who sprinted past for the late try that decisively broke the home defense. Additionally Grant Williams, a second playmaker with blistering pace and an even sharper eye for a gap. Naturally it is an advantage to play behind a dominant set of forwards, with the powerful center riding shotgun, but the steady transformation of the Boks from intimidating giants into a team who can also display finesse and deliver telling blows is remarkable.

French Flashes

Which is not to say that France were completely dominated, despite their limp finish. Damian Penaud’s second try in the right corner was a clear example. The set-piece strength that tied in the South African pack, the excellent wide ball from the playmaker and the winger's clinical finish into the sideline boards all demonstrated the hallmarks of a team with notable skill, without their star man.

Yet that ultimately proved not enough, which really is a humbling reality for all other nations. There is no way, for instance, that the Scottish side could have trailed heavily to South Africa and mounted a comeback in the way they did versus New Zealand. And for all the red rose's strong finish, there is a distance to travel before the England team can be certain of competing with the South African powerhouses with high stakes.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Defeating an Pacific Island team was challenging on the weekend although the forthcoming clash against the All Blacks will be the fixture that truly shapes their November Tests. The visitors are certainly vulnerable, notably absent Jordie Barrett in their backline, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they remain a step ahead the majority of the northern hemisphere teams.

Scotland were especially culpable of missing the chance to secure the killing points and doubts still apply to the English side's optimal back division. It is acceptable finishing games strongly – and infinitely better than losing them late on – but their admirable winning sequence this year has so far featured only one win over elite-level teams, a narrow win over the French in February.

Next Steps

Hence the significance of this next weekend. Reading between the lines it would seem several changes are likely in the matchday squad, with established stars returning to the lineup. Among the forwards, likewise, regular starters should return from the start.

But context is key, in sport as in reality. In the lead-up to the 2027 World Cup the {rest