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Certain wins send twofold importance in the statement they broadcast. Among the flood of weekend rugby Tests, it was the Saturday evening score in the French capital that will linger longest across both hemispheres. Not only the conclusion, but the way the style of achievement. To claim that the Springboks demolished a number of widely-held assumptions would be an understatement of the season.

Shifting Momentum

Discard the idea, for example, that France would avenge the injustice of their World Cup last-eight loss. The belief that entering the final quarter with a narrow lead and an additional player would result in inevitable glory. Despite missing their talisman their scrum-half, they still had more than enough tranquiliser darts to restrain the strong rivals at a distance.

As it turned out, it was a case of celebrating too soon prematurely. Initially behind on the scoreboard, the 14-man Boks ended up registering 19 consecutive points, confirming their reputation as a squad who consistently reserve their top performance for the toughest circumstances. If defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in the last quarter was a message, this was conclusive proof that the top-ranked team are cultivating an greater resilience.

Set-Piece Superiority

Actually, Rassie Erasmus’s champion Bok forwards are beginning to make all other teams look less intense by contrast. Both northern hemisphere teams experienced their moments over the recent fixtures but lacked entirely the same dominant forwards that effectively reduced the French pack to ruins in the closing period. A number of talented young home nation players are coming through but, by the final whistle, Saturday night was men against boys.

What was perhaps even more striking was the psychological resilience supporting it all. Missing Lood de Jager – issued a red card in the first half for a dangerous contact of the opposition kicker – the Boks could might well have lost their composure. As it happened they just circled the wagons and proceeded to taking the demoralized home team to what one former French international described as “a place of suffering.”

Guidance and Example

Post-game, having been carried around the venue on the powerful backs of two key forwards to honor his century of appearances, the South African skipper, the flanker, once again stressed how a significant number of his players have been needed to overcome off-field adversity and how he hoped his team would in the same way continue to inspire fans.

The perceptive a commentator also made an astute point on television, proposing that the coach's achievements progressively make him the rugby coaching equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson. In the event that the world champions manage to claim a third straight world title there will be absolute certainty. Should they fail to achieve it, the intelligent way in which the coach has refreshed a possibly veteran squad has been an object lesson to everyone.

Emerging Talent

Take for example his young playmaker the newcomer who skipped over for the decisive touchdown that decisively broke the opposition line. And also Grant Williams, another backline player with blistering pace and an keener ability to spot openings. Of course it is an advantage to operate behind a dominant set of forwards, with André Esterhuizen providing support, but the steady transformation of the Boks from scowling heavyweights into a team who can also move with agility and sting like bees is remarkable.

Glimpses of French Quality

Which is not to say that France were completely dominated, despite their weak ending. Damian Penaud’s additional score in the right corner was a prime instance. The power up front that tied in the South African pack, the excellent wide ball from Ramos and the winger's clinical finish into the advertising hoardings all displayed the characteristics of a team with notable skill, without their captain.

However, that turned out to be insufficient, which is a humbling reality for competing teams. There is no way, for example, that the visitors could have gone 17-0 down to South Africa and fought back in the way they did in their fixture. Notwithstanding the red rose's last-quarter improvement, there remains a journey ahead before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be certain of facing Erasmus’s green-clad giants with everything on the line.

Home Nations' Tests

Defeating an developing Fijian side posed difficulties on match day although the upcoming showdown against the New Zealand will be the match that properly defines their end-of-year series. New Zealand are certainly vulnerable, notably absent Jordie Barrett in their backline, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they are still a level above almost all the European sides.

Scotland were especially culpable of missing the chance to secure the decisive blows and uncertainties still apply to the red rose's perfect backline combination. It is acceptable finishing games strongly – and much preferable than losing them late on – but their notable nine-match unbeaten run this year has so far shown just one success over top-drawer opposition, a close result over France in the winter.

Next Steps

Therefore the significance of this coming Saturday. Analyzing the situation it would look like various alterations are likely in the starting lineup, with experienced individuals being reinstated to the team. Among the forwards, in the same way, familiar faces should all be back from the outset.

But perspective matters, in rugby as in reality. From now until the 2027 World Cup the {rest