🔗 Share this article

Some victories deliver dual significance in the message they broadcast. Within the flood of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was the Saturday evening result in Paris that will resonate most profoundly across the globe. Not merely the conclusion, but equally the manner of success. To claim that South Africa shattered various established theories would be an oversimplification of the season.

Unexpected Turnaround

So much for the notion, for instance, that France would rectify the disappointment of their World Cup elimination. That entering the final quarter with a narrow lead and an extra man would result in inevitable glory. Even in the absence of their key player their scrum-half, they still had ample resources to keep the strong rivals at a distance.

As it turned out, it was a case of celebrating too soon before time. Having been trailing by four points, the South African side with a player sent off ended up racking up 19 points without reply, strengthening their standing as a team who more and more reserve their top performance for the most demanding circumstances. Whereas overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in September was a statement, here was clear demonstration that the top-ranked team are developing an greater resilience.

Set-Piece Superiority

If anything, Rassie Erasmus’s title-winning pack are beginning to make opposing sides look less committed by juxtaposition. Scotland and England each enjoyed their periods of promise over the weekend but did not have the same powerful carriers that effectively reduced France to landfill in the last half-hour. Some promising young France's pack members are developing but, by the end, Saturday night was men against boys.

Perhaps most impressive was the psychological resilience underpinning it all. Missing their lock forward – issued a red card in the first half for a dangerous contact of the opposition kicker – the South Africans could easily have lost their composure. As it happened they just regrouped and began pulling the disheartened French side to what an ex-France player described as “the hurt locker.”

Leadership and Inspiration

Post-game, having been hoisted around the Stade de France on the immense frames of two key forwards to celebrate his 100th cap, the team leader, the inspirational figure, yet again emphasized how many of his squad have been obliged to conquer off-field adversity and how he wished his side would similarly continue to inspire people.

The insightful an analyst also made an astute point on broadcast, stating that Erasmus’s record more and more make him the parallel figure of the legendary football manager. In the event that the world champions do go on to win a third successive World Cup there will be complete assurance. Should they come up short, the intelligent way in which the coach has revitalized a potentially ageing squad has been an object lesson to other teams.

Emerging Talent

Take for example his 23-year-old fly-half the newcomer who sprinted past for the closing score that properly blew open the home defense. Or another half-back, a further playmaker with explosive speed and an keener eye for a gap. Undoubtedly it is an advantage to play behind a dominant set of forwards, with André Esterhuizen riding shotgun, but the continuing evolution of the Boks from intimidating giants into a side who can also float like butterflies and deliver telling blows is hugely impressive.

French Flashes

Which is not to say that France were completely dominated, despite their fading performance. The wing's later touchdown in the right corner was a prime instance. The power up front that occupied the Bok forwards, the glorious long pass from the full-back and the winger's clinical finish into the advertising hoardings all demonstrated the traits of a squad with significant talent, despite missing their star man.

However, that turned out to be not enough, which is a humbling reality for competing teams. There is no way, for instance, that Scotland could have gone 17-0 down to the Springboks and fought back in the way they did in their fixture. Notwithstanding the red rose's last-quarter improvement, there is a journey ahead before the national side can be confident of standing up to Erasmus’s green-clad giants with everything on the line.

European Prospects

Beating an Pacific Island team posed difficulties on Saturday although the forthcoming clash against the the Kiwis will be the contest that properly defines their end-of-year series. The visitors are not invincible, particularly without an influential back in their center, but when it comes to converting pressure into points they are still a cut above most the European sides.

Scotland were notably at fault of missing the chance to secure the killing points and uncertainties still apply to the English side's perfect backline combination. It is acceptable ending matches well – and infinitely better than succumbing at the death – but their commendable winning sequence this year has so far shown just one success over top-drawer opposition, a close result over Les Bleus in February.

Next Steps

Hence the significance of this next weekend. Reading between the lines it would look like several changes are likely in the starting lineup, with key players coming back to the team. In the pack, similarly, first-choice players should return from the start.

However everything is relative, in competition as in existence. From now until the next global tournament the {rest