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Some victories carry twofold significance in the lesson they broadcast. Amid the barrage of weekend rugby Tests, it was the Saturday evening result in the French capital that will linger most profoundly across the globe. Not merely the conclusion, but also the style of achievement. To claim that South Africa overturned several widely-held beliefs would be an understatement of the season.

Unexpected Turnaround

So much for the theory, for instance, that the French team would make amends for the unfairness of their World Cup elimination. Assuming that going into the last period with a slight advantage and an numerical superiority would result in inevitable glory. Even in the absence of their talisman their captain, they still had more than enough tranquiliser darts to contain the powerful opponents under control.

As it turned out, it was a case of celebrating too soon before time. After being behind on the scoreboard, the South African side with a player sent off finished by scoring 19 unanswered points, reinforcing their reputation as a side who more and more deliver their finest rugby for the most demanding situations. If defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in the last quarter was a message, this was definitive evidence that the top-ranked team are developing an more robust mentality.

Set-Piece Superiority

Actually, Rassie Erasmus’s champion Bok forwards are starting to make opposing sides look less intense by juxtaposition. Scotland and England each enjoyed their periods of promise over the two-day period but lacked entirely the same earthmovers that thoroughly overwhelmed the home side to landfill in the closing period. A number of talented young home nation players are emerging but, by the final whistle, the match was hommes contre garçons.

Even more notable was the inner fortitude driving it all. In the absence of the second-rower – issued a 38th-minute straight red for a shoulder to the head of the French full-back – the Springboks could easily have faltered. On the contrary they just circled the wagons and proceeded to pulling the demoralized boys in blue to what a retired hooker referred to as “extreme physical pressure.”

Leadership and Inspiration

Post-game, having been carried around the Stade de France on the gigantic shoulders of two key forwards to mark his hundredth Test, the Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi, once again stressed how many of his team have been required to conquer life difficulties and how he wished his squad would in the same way continue to motivate fans.

The perceptive a commentator also made an shrewd observation on broadcast, proposing that his results increasingly make him the rugby coaching equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson. In the event that the world champions do go on to secure another global trophy there will be complete assurance. Should they come up short, the clever way in which the mentor has refreshed a possibly veteran team has been an object lesson to other teams.

New Generation

Look no further than his young playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who skipped over for the late try that decisively broke the home defense. Additionally Grant Williams, another backline player with blistering pace and an even sharper vision for space. Naturally it is beneficial to operate behind a dominant set of forwards, with the powerful center providing support, but the steady transformation of the Boks from scowling heavyweights into a side who can also display finesse and deliver telling blows is extraordinary.

Home Side's Moments

However, it should not be thought that the French team were totally outclassed, despite their fading performance. The wing's later touchdown in the right corner was a prime instance. The forward dominance that occupied the South African pack, the glorious long pass from the playmaker and the winger's clinical finish into the sideline boards all exhibited the characteristics of a team with significant talent, even in the absence of their captain.

Yet that in the end was inadequate, which really is a sobering thought for everybody else. There is no way, for example, that the visitors could have gone 17-0 down to South Africa and come galloping back in the way they did against the All Blacks. Despite England’s last-quarter improvement, there remains a gap to close before the national side can be certain of facing the South African powerhouses with high stakes.

European Prospects

Defeating an Pacific Island team proved tricky enough on Saturday although the next encounter against the the Kiwis will be the contest that accurately reflects their end-of-year series. The visitors are definitely still beatable, notably absent their key midfielder in their midfield, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they are still a cut above almost all the northern hemisphere teams.

The Scottish team were particularly guilty of failing to hammer home the decisive blows and question marks still apply to England’s perfect backline combination. It is acceptable finishing games strongly – and far superior than fading in the closing stages – but their commendable winning sequence this year has so far included just a single victory over top-drawer opposition, a close result over Les Bleus in February.

Looking Ahead

Thus the significance of this upround. Interpreting the signals it would look like various alterations are anticipated in the starting lineup, with experienced individuals being reinstated to the lineup. Up front, likewise, first-choice players should all be back from the start.

Yet context is key, in sport as in life. Between now and the next global tournament the {rest