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Some victories carry dual significance in the message they communicate. Within the barrage of weekend Test matches, it was the Saturday evening result in the French capital that will echo most profoundly across the rugby world. Not merely the final score, but the way the manner of achievement. To say that South Africa shattered various comfortable assumptions would be an oversimplification of the calendar.

Shifting Momentum

Forget about the notion, for example, that France would make amends for the unfairness of their World Cup elimination. The belief that entering the closing stages with a small margin and an extra man would result in inevitable glory. That even without their star man their scrum-half, they still had more than enough resources to contain the strong rivals under control.

On the contrary, it was a case of assuming victory before time. After being trailing by four points, the reduced Springboks ended up racking up 19 points without reply, confirming their standing as a squad who increasingly reserve their top performance for the toughest situations. Whereas beating New Zealand 43-10 in earlier this year was a declaration, this was definitive evidence that the top-ranked team are developing an greater resilience.

Pack Power

In fact, Erasmus's title-winning pack are beginning to make all other teams look less committed by comparison. Both northern hemisphere teams experienced their moments over the weekend but lacked entirely the same powerful carriers that thoroughly overwhelmed the French pack to rubble in the last half-hour. Several up-and-coming young French forwards are coming through but, by the end, the match was hommes contre garçons.

Perhaps most impressive was the psychological resilience driving it all. Missing their lock forward – shown a red card in the first half for a dangerous contact of the opposition kicker – the Boks could might well have become disorganized. On the contrary they just united and proceeded to pulling the deflated boys in blue to what one former French international referred to as “the hurt locker.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Afterwards, having been carried around the venue on the immense frames of the lock pairing to honor his 100th cap, the Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi, yet again stressed how a significant number of his players have been obliged to conquer personal challenges and how he wished his team would in the same way continue to inspire people.

The insightful David Flatman also made an shrewd observation on sports media, proposing that his results more and more make him the rugby coaching equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson. Should the Springboks succeed in claim a third straight world title there will be absolute certainty. In case they come up short, the clever way in which Erasmus has revitalized a experienced team has been an exemplary model to other teams.

Young Stars

Take for example his emerging number 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who darted through for the late try that decisively broke the opposition line. And also Grant Williams, another playmaker with lightning acceleration and an more acute vision for space. Of course it helps to operate behind a dominant set of forwards, with André Esterhuizen providing support, but the continuing evolution of the South African team from scowling heavyweights into a squad who can also move with agility and deliver telling blows is extraordinary.

French Flashes

However, it should not be thought that the French team were totally outclassed, in spite of their limp finish. The wing's later touchdown in the far side was a clear example. The forward dominance that occupied the Bok forwards, the superb distribution from the playmaker and Penaud’s finishing dive into the advertising hoardings all exhibited the hallmarks of a side with significant talent, even in the absence of their captain.

However, that turned out to be not enough, which is a humbling reality for all other nations. There is no way, for example, that the visitors could have trailed heavily to the world champions and mounted a comeback in the way they did against the All Blacks. Despite the red rose's late resurgence, there is a distance to travel before the national side can be certain of facing Erasmus’s green-clad giants with high stakes.

European Prospects

Overcoming an Pacific Island team was challenging on Saturday although the forthcoming clash against the New Zealand will be the contest that properly defines their end-of-year series. New Zealand are definitely still beatable, notably absent Jordie Barrett in their center, but when it comes to taking their chances they continue to be a step ahead almost all the European sides.

The Scottish team were especially culpable of missing the chance to secure the killing points and doubts still apply to England’s ideal backline blend. It is acceptable performing in the final quarter – and infinitely better than losing them late on – but their commendable nine-match unbeaten run this year has so far featured only one win over elite-level teams, a close result over Les Bleus in the winter.

Future Prospects

Thus the importance of this next weekend. Analyzing the situation it would look like various alterations are likely in the matchday squad, with established stars coming back to the lineup. In the pack, similarly, familiar faces should be included from the start.

Yet context is key, in rugby as in life. From now until the upcoming world championship the {rest