🔗 Share this article

Some victories deliver dual weight in the statement they broadcast. Within the barrage of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was the Saturday evening outcome in the French capital that will echo most profoundly across the globe. Not merely the end result, but also the manner of achievement. To suggest that the Springboks shattered a number of comfortable theories would be an modest description of the season.

Shifting Momentum

Forget about the idea, for instance, that the French team would make amends for the disappointment of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. The belief that entering the last period with a narrow lead and an extra man would translate into certain victory. Even in the absence of their star man their scrum-half, they still had ample resources to keep the strong rivals at a distance.

Instead, it was a case of counting their poulets before time. Initially behind on the scoreboard, the 14-man Boks ended up scoring 19 unanswered points, strengthening their status as a team who increasingly save their best for the toughest situations. If defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in September was a declaration, now came definitive evidence that the world’s No 1 side are building an more robust mentality.

Pack Power

If anything, Erasmus's experienced front eight are beginning to make opposing sides look less committed by comparison. The Scottish and English sides both had their moments over the two-day period but did not have the same dominant forwards that thoroughly overwhelmed France to landfill in the final thirty minutes. A number of talented young home nation players are coming through but, by the conclusion, the encounter was hommes contre garçons.

Even more notable was the inner fortitude underpinning it all. Without their lock forward – issued a red card in the first half for a dangerous contact of the French full-back – the Springboks could easily have faltered. On the contrary they merely circled the wagons and began dragging the deflated French side to what a retired hooker referred to as “the hurt locker.”

Leadership and Inspiration

Afterwards, having been hoisted around the Stade de France on the gigantic shoulders of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to celebrate his century of appearances, the team leader, the flanker, repeatedly emphasized how a significant number of his players have been obliged to conquer off-field adversity and how he wished his side would in the same way continue to encourage fans.

The ever-sage David Flatman also made an shrewd point on sports media, suggesting that the coach's achievements progressively make him the parallel figure of the legendary football manager. In the event that the world champions succeed in win a third successive World Cup there will be absolute certainty. Should they come up short, the intelligent way in which Erasmus has rejuvenated a experienced team has been an masterclass to all.

Emerging Talent

Take for example his 23-year-old fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who skipped over for the closing score that effectively shattered the opposition line. And also another half-back, another half-back with lightning acceleration and an keener ability to spot openings. Of course it is beneficial to have the support of a dominant set of forwards, with the powerful center providing support, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the South African team from physically imposing units into a side who can also move with agility and strike decisively is extraordinary.

French Flashes

However, it should not be thought that the French team were utterly overwhelmed, notwithstanding their fading performance. Damian Penaud’s additional score in the right corner was a clear example. The power up front that tied in the Bok forwards, the superb distribution from the playmaker and the winger's clinical finish into the advertising hoardings all demonstrated the hallmarks of a team with notable skill, even in the absence of their star man.

But even that in the end was inadequate, which really is a sobering thought for everybody else. It is inconceivable, for instance, that the Scottish side could have trailed heavily to South Africa and fought back in the way they did against the All Blacks. And for all the red rose's late resurgence, there remains a distance to travel before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be certain of competing with Erasmus’s green-clad giants with all at stake.

Home Nations' Tests

Beating an Pacific Island team posed difficulties on Saturday although the forthcoming clash against the the Kiwis will be the match that truly shapes their end-of-year series. The visitors are definitely still beatable, especially missing their key midfielder in their backline, but when it comes to converting pressure into points they are still a level above almost all the European sides.

Scotland were notably at fault of failing to hammer home the final nails and uncertainties still apply to the red rose's optimal back division. It is acceptable ending matches well – and far superior than losing them late on – but their notable undefeated streak this year has so far included just a single victory over top-drawer opposition, a close result over France in earlier in the year.

Future Prospects

Hence the importance of this upround. Analyzing the situation it would seem several changes are anticipated in the team selection, with key players being reinstated to the lineup. In the pack, similarly, first-choice players should all be back from the start.

But everything is relative, in rugby as in life. Between now and the next global tournament the {rest