🔗 Share this article

Some victories deliver double weight in the lesson they communicate. Amid the flurry of weekend Test matches, it was the Saturday evening result in the French capital that will echo longest across the globe. Not only the conclusion, but the way the manner of victory. To claim that the Springboks overturned various widely-held theories would be an modest description of the calendar.

Unexpected Turnaround

Forget about the idea, for example, that France would avenge the injustice of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. The belief that entering the closing stages with a narrow lead and an numerical superiority would translate into inevitable glory. Even in the absence of their talisman Antoine Dupont, they still had more than enough strategies to restrain the strong rivals at a distance.

Instead, it was a case of assuming victory too early. Having been behind on the scoreboard, the 14-man Boks finished by scoring 19 unanswered points, confirming their reputation as a squad who more and more save their best for the most challenging scenarios. While overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in earlier this year was a declaration, now came clear demonstration that the top-ranked team are building an more robust mentality.

Forward Dominance

In fact, the coach's champion Bok forwards are beginning to make everyone else look less committed by juxtaposition. Scotland and England both had their periods of promise over the recent fixtures but possessed nothing like the same dominant forwards that thoroughly overwhelmed the home side to landfill in the final thirty minutes. Several up-and-coming young home nation players are emerging but, by the final whistle, Saturday night was a mismatch in experience.

Even more notable was the psychological resilience supporting it all. Missing Lood de Jager – issued a red card in the first half for a high tackle of Thomas Ramos – the South Africans could easily have become disorganized. As it happened they simply united and set about dragging the demoralized French side to what one former French international referred to as “a place of suffering.”

Leadership and Inspiration

Post-game, having been borne aloft around the Stade de France on the gigantic shoulders of the lock pairing to celebrate his 100th cap, the team leader, the flanker, yet again emphasized how many of his squad have been needed to overcome personal challenges and how he aspired his team would similarly continue to encourage people.

The perceptive a commentator also made an astute observation on broadcast, suggesting that his results progressively make him the rugby coaching equivalent of the Manchester United great. Should the Springboks succeed in claim a third straight world title there will be absolute certainty. In case they come up short, the smart way in which the mentor has revitalized a experienced roster has been an object lesson to all.

Young Stars

Take for example his 23-year-old fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who darted through for the closing score that properly blew open the opposition line. Additionally Grant Williams, another backline player with blistering pace and an keener vision for space. Of course it is an advantage to have the support of a dominant set of forwards, with André Esterhuizen providing support, but the steady transformation of the Boks from scowling heavyweights into a squad who can also float like butterflies and sting like bees is hugely impressive.

Home Side's Moments

This is not to imply that the home side were totally outclassed, in spite of their limp finish. Damian Penaud’s later touchdown in the far side was a good illustration. The power up front that tied in the Bok forwards, the superb distribution from the playmaker and Penaud’s finishing dive into the advertising hoardings all displayed the characteristics of a team with notable skill, despite missing Dupont.

But even that ultimately proved insufficient, which is a sobering thought for all other nations. There is no way, for example, that Scotland could have trailed heavily to South Africa and mounted a comeback in the way they did in their fixture. Notwithstanding the English team's strong finish, there still exists a distance to travel before the national side can be confident of facing the world's top team with all at stake.

European Prospects

Defeating an developing Fijian side was challenging on the weekend although the forthcoming clash against the New Zealand will be the match that properly defines their end-of-year series. The All Blacks are definitely still beatable, particularly without an influential back in their center, but when it comes to taking their chances they continue to be a cut above most the home unions.

The Scottish team were particularly guilty of not finishing off the decisive blows and doubts still hang over the red rose's perfect backline combination. It is all very well ending matches well – and infinitely better than succumbing at the death – but their commendable winning sequence this year has so far featured only one win over world-class sides, a close result over France in February.

Next Steps

Hence the importance of this coming Saturday. Interpreting the signals it would look like a number of adjustments are anticipated in the matchday squad, with experienced individuals returning to the lineup. Up front, similarly, first-choice players should all be back from the start.

But everything is relative, in rugby as in existence. In the lead-up to the next global tournament the {rest