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Some victories send dual weight in the message they broadcast. Among the flurry of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was Saturday night's score in Paris that will echo most enduringly across the rugby world. Not merely the final score, but equally the style of victory. To say that the Springboks shattered a number of widely-held assumptions would be an oversimplification of the calendar.

Surprising Comeback

Forget about the notion, for example, that France would avenge the unfairness of their World Cup elimination. That entering the closing stages with a small margin and an extra man would result in certain victory. Despite missing their star man Antoine Dupont, they still had sufficient strategies to restrain the strong rivals at a distance.

As it turned out, it was a case of counting their poulets too early. Initially behind on the scoreboard, the South African side with a player sent off finished by scoring 19 unanswered points, reinforcing their status as a side who consistently deliver their finest rugby for the most challenging situations. While defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in September was a declaration, here was definitive evidence that the world’s No 1 side are cultivating an more robust mentality.

Set-Piece Superiority

If anything, the coach's champion Bok forwards are starting to make everyone else look less committed by comparison. Both northern hemisphere teams experienced their promising spells over the recent fixtures but did not have the same dominant forwards that effectively reduced the home side to landfill in the final thirty minutes. A number of talented young home nation players are emerging but, by the conclusion, Saturday night was men against boys.

Even more notable was the psychological resilience supporting it all. Without the second-rower – shown a 38th-minute straight red for a shoulder to the head of the French full-back – the Boks could might well have become disorganized. As it happened they just united and set about dragging the demoralized French side to what one former French international described as “extreme physical pressure.”

Leadership and Inspiration

Afterwards, having been borne aloft around the Stade de France on the gigantic shoulders of the lock pairing to honor his century of appearances, the Springbok captain, the inspirational figure, yet again highlighted how a significant number of his players have been obliged to rise above life difficulties and how he hoped his team would in the same way continue to motivate people.

The ever-sage an analyst also made an perceptive point on broadcast, suggesting that his results more and more make him the rugby coaching equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson. Should the Springboks do go on to win a third successive World Cup there will be no doubt whatsoever. In case they fail to achieve it, the clever way in which the coach has rejuvenated a possibly veteran team has been an masterclass to everyone.

New Generation

Consider his emerging number 10 the newcomer who skipped over for the late try that properly blew open the home defense. Or the scrum-half, a second half-back with explosive speed and an more acute vision for space. Of course it is an advantage to have the support of a dominant set of forwards, with the powerful center providing support, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the South African team from intimidating giants into a side who can also float like butterflies and deliver telling blows is hugely impressive.

French Flashes

This is not to imply that the French team were totally outclassed, in spite of their limp finish. Their winger's second try in the far side was a clear example. The power up front that occupied the Bok forwards, the glorious long pass from Ramos and the try-scorer's execution into the advertising hoardings all demonstrated the characteristics of a team with considerable ability, despite missing Dupont.

Yet that in the end was insufficient, which is a humbling reality for everybody else. There is no way, for instance, that the Scottish side could have gone 17-0 down to South Africa and come galloping back in the way they did versus New Zealand. Notwithstanding the red rose's late resurgence, there is a gap to close before the national side can be certain of competing with the South African powerhouses with all at stake.

European Prospects

Defeating an improving Fiji posed difficulties on the weekend although the forthcoming clash against the All Blacks will be the contest that properly defines their end-of-year series. The visitors are not invincible, especially missing Jordie Barrett in their midfield, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they are still a level above almost all the home unions.

Scotland were particularly guilty of failing to hammer home the killing points and uncertainties still hang over England’s optimal back division. It is fine ending matches well – and infinitely better than losing them late on – but their commendable winning sequence this year has so far featured only one win over top-drawer opposition, a close result over France in earlier in the year.

Looking Ahead

Thus the significance of this next weekend. Reading between the lines it would seem various alterations are likely in the matchday squad, with established stars being reinstated to the side. Up front, likewise, regular starters should all be back from the beginning.

However everything is relative, in rugby as in life. From now until the next global tournament the {rest