🔗 Share this article

A number of triumphs deliver dual importance in the statement they convey. Among the flood of weekend Test matches, it was the Saturday evening outcome in Paris that will linger most enduringly across both hemispheres. Not only the end result, but the way the style of achievement. To say that the Springboks shattered various established theories would be an oversimplification of the rugby year.

Unexpected Turnaround

Discard the theory, for instance, that France would make amends for the injustice of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. Assuming that going into the closing stages with a narrow lead and an numerical superiority would result in assumed success. Even in the absence of their star man Antoine Dupont, they still had sufficient resources to restrain the strong rivals under control.

Instead, it was a case of celebrating too soon too early. Having been behind on the scoreboard, the reduced Springboks ended up scoring 19 unanswered points, strengthening their reputation as a side who increasingly reserve their top performance for the most demanding situations. If overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in the last quarter was a message, this was clear demonstration that the leading international squad are developing an even thicker skin.

Set-Piece Superiority

In fact, Erasmus's title-winning pack are starting to make all other teams look less intense by contrast. The Scottish and English sides both had their periods of promise over the two-day period but did not have the same dominant forwards that effectively reduced the home side to ruins in the closing period. A number of talented young France's pack members are emerging but, by the conclusion, Saturday night was a mismatch in experience.

Even more notable was the inner fortitude underpinning it all. In the absence of Lood de Jager – issued a 38th-minute straight red for a high tackle of the opposition kicker – the Boks could easily have faltered. Instead they merely regrouped and proceeded to pulling the disheartened French side to what one former French international described as “a place of suffering.”

Leadership and Inspiration

Afterwards, having been hoisted around the venue on the gigantic shoulders of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to celebrate his hundredth Test, the team leader, the flanker, once again highlighted how many of his squad have been obliged to conquer off-field adversity and how he hoped his side would in the same way continue to inspire others.

The perceptive David Flatman also made an astute point on broadcast, suggesting that his results increasingly make him the rugby coaching equivalent of the legendary football manager. Should the Springboks do go on to secure another global trophy there will be complete assurance. In case they come up short, the clever way in which the coach has rejuvenated a possibly veteran squad has been an exemplary model to everyone.

New Generation

Consider his young playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who skipped over for the late try that properly blew open the opposition line. Or the scrum-half, a further half-back with blistering pace and an more acute vision for space. Undoubtedly it helps to operate behind a dominant set of forwards, with the inside back providing support, but the steady transformation of the Springboks from scowling heavyweights into a team who can also float like butterflies and strike decisively is extraordinary.

French Flashes

Which is not to say that France were totally outclassed, in spite of their fading performance. The wing's second try in the right corner was a prime instance. The forward dominance that engaged the Bok forwards, the superb distribution from the playmaker and the try-scorer's execution into the advertising hoardings all displayed the hallmarks of a squad with notable skill, even in the absence of their star man.

But even that ultimately proved insufficient, which truly represents a daunting prospect for competing teams. It would be impossible, 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. Despite England’s late resurgence, there remains a distance to travel before the national side can be assured of competing with the South African powerhouses with all at stake.

European Prospects

Defeating an Pacific Island team posed difficulties on the weekend although the forthcoming clash against the New Zealand will be the match that accurately reflects their end-of-year series. The visitors are not invincible, particularly without their key midfielder in their center, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they remain a cut above almost all the European sides.

The Thistles were notably at fault of failing to hammer home the decisive blows and doubts still apply to the English side's optimal back division. It is acceptable ending matches well – and much preferable than losing them late on – but their notable nine-match unbeaten run this year has so far featured only one win over elite-level teams, a one-point home victory over France in the winter.

Future Prospects

Hence the importance of this upround. Reading between the lines it would appear several changes are anticipated in the matchday squad, with established stars coming back to the lineup. In the pack, similarly, familiar faces should all be back from the outset.

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