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Some victories carry twofold significance in the statement they communicate. Within the flood of weekend rugby Tests, it was Saturday night's outcome in the French capital that will echo most enduringly across the rugby world. Not only the end result, but equally the style of achievement. To suggest that the Springboks demolished several comfortable assumptions would be an understatement of the season.

Surprising Comeback

Discard the theory, for example, that the French team would rectify the disappointment of their World Cup elimination. Assuming that going into the last period with a small margin and an extra man would lead to assumed success. That even without their key player Antoine Dupont, they still had more than enough strategies to contain the powerful opponents under control.

Instead, it was a case of counting their poulets before time. After being trailing by four points, the 14-man Boks finished by racking up 19 points without reply, strengthening their status as a team who more and more reserve their top performance for the most challenging scenarios. Whereas defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in September was a statement, this was clear demonstration that the top-ranked team are building an more robust mentality.

Pack Power

In fact, Erasmus's champion Bok forwards are starting to make opposing sides look less committed by juxtaposition. The Scottish and English sides both had their promising spells over the two-day period but did not have the same earthmovers that effectively reduced the home side to ruins in the last half-hour. A number of talented young French forwards are developing but, by the conclusion, Saturday night was hommes contre garçons.

What was perhaps even more striking was the inner fortitude driving it all. Missing their lock forward – shown a dismissal before halftime for a shoulder to the head of the French full-back – the Boks could potentially faltered. As it happened they merely circled the wagons and began dragging the disheartened home team to what one former French international described as “extreme physical pressure.”

Guidance and Example

Afterwards, having been carried around the Stade de France on the powerful backs of the lock pairing to mark his hundredth Test, the Springbok captain, the inspirational figure, yet again highlighted how several of his players have been obliged to conquer life difficulties and how he hoped his team would likewise continue to inspire fans.

The insightful David Flatman also made an shrewd observation on sports media, suggesting that his results increasingly make him the rugby coaching equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson. In the event that the world champions manage to secure another global trophy there will be complete assurance. Should they come up short, the smart way in which the mentor has rejuvenated a experienced squad has been an object lesson to all.

New Generation

Take for example his young playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who skipped over for the closing score that properly blew open the opposition line. And also the scrum-half, another playmaker with blistering pace and an more acute vision for space. Naturally it is an advantage to play behind a massive forward unit, with the powerful center adding physicality, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the South African team from scowling heavyweights into a team who can also display finesse and deliver telling blows is remarkable.

French Flashes

However, it should not be thought that France were completely dominated, despite their weak ending. The wing's later touchdown in the wing area was a clear example. The power up front that tied in the visiting eight, the superb distribution from the full-back and Penaud’s finishing dive into the advertising hoardings all exhibited the traits of a squad with notable skill, even in the absence of Dupont.

But even that in the end was inadequate, which truly represents a sobering thought for everybody else. It is inconceivable, for instance, that the visitors could have gone 17-0 down to the world champions and come galloping back in the way they did versus New Zealand. And for all England’s last-quarter improvement, there still exists a distance to travel before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be confident of facing the South African powerhouses with high stakes.

European Prospects

Overcoming an developing Fijian side posed difficulties on Saturday although the forthcoming clash against the New Zealand will be the contest that properly defines their November Tests. The visitors are not invincible, particularly without an influential back in their backline, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they are still a cut above the majority of the northern hemisphere teams.

The Thistles were notably at fault of missing the chance to secure the final nails and uncertainties still apply to the English side's optimal back division. It is all very well finishing games strongly – and much preferable than losing them late on – but their notable winning sequence this year has so far included just a single victory over top-drawer opposition, a one-point home victory over France in earlier in the year.

Looking Ahead

Hence the weight of this next weekend. Reading between the lines it would appear several changes are likely in the starting lineup, with key players being reinstated to the team. Up front, similarly, familiar faces should return from the start.

However context is key, in sport as in reality. From now until the next global tournament the {rest