🔗 Share this article

Some victories deliver double weight in the lesson they communicate. Within the flood of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was the Saturday evening score in the French capital that will linger most profoundly across the rugby world. Not merely the final score, but equally the approach of success. To claim that the Springboks demolished various widely-held theories would be an understatement of the calendar.

Shifting Momentum

Discard the idea, for example, that the French team would make amends for the disappointment of their World Cup elimination. That entering the closing stages with a slight advantage and an extra man would lead to inevitable glory. Despite missing their star man Antoine Dupont, they still had sufficient tranquiliser darts to contain the big beasts safely at bay.

Instead, it was a case of assuming victory prematurely. Having been 17-13 down, the reduced Springboks finished by registering 19 consecutive points, confirming their status as a team who consistently reserve their top performance for the toughest scenarios. Whereas overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in the last quarter was a declaration, here was definitive evidence that the top-ranked team are developing an even thicker skin.

Set-Piece Superiority

If anything, Erasmus's champion Bok forwards are increasingly make all other teams look less intense by comparison. The Scottish and English sides both had their moments over the recent fixtures but possessed nothing like the same dominant forwards that thoroughly overwhelmed France to landfill in the final thirty minutes. Several up-and-coming young France's pack members are developing but, by the final whistle, Saturday night was men against boys.

Perhaps most impressive was the mental strength driving it all. Missing Lood de Jager – shown a dismissal before halftime for a dangerous contact of Thomas Ramos – the Boks could easily have faltered. As it happened they just regrouped and set about pulling the demoralized boys in blue to what an ex-France player described as “extreme physical pressure.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Post-game, having been hoisted around the Stade de France on the gigantic shoulders of two key forwards to mark his hundredth Test, the Springbok captain, the inspirational figure, repeatedly stressed how several of his players have been required to rise above off-field adversity and how he aspired his side would similarly continue to motivate others.

The perceptive a commentator also made an perceptive comment on television, proposing that Erasmus’s record more and more make him the rugby coaching equivalent of the Manchester United great. Should the Springboks succeed in win a third successive World Cup there will be no doubt whatsoever. Even if they come up short, the intelligent way in which Erasmus has revitalized a experienced squad has been an masterclass to other teams.

Emerging Talent

Take for example his emerging number 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who darted through for the closing score that effectively shattered the French windows. And also another half-back, another half-back with explosive speed and an more acute vision for space. Undoubtedly it is an advantage to play behind a gargantuan pack, with the powerful center adding physicality, but the steady transformation of the Boks from physically imposing units into a team who can also move with agility and deliver telling blows is remarkable.

Glimpses of French Quality

However, it should not be thought that the home side were completely dominated, in spite of their weak ending. Their winger's later touchdown in the far side was a clear example. The power up front that tied in the South African pack, the excellent wide ball from Ramos and Penaud’s finishing dive into the sideline boards all exhibited the hallmarks of a team with notable skill, despite missing their star man.

However, that in the end was insufficient, which is a daunting prospect for all other nations. It is inconceivable, for instance, that the Scottish side could have fallen behind by 17 points to South Africa and mounted a comeback in the way they did versus New Zealand. Despite England’s strong finish, there is a journey ahead before the national side can be certain of facing Erasmus’s green-clad giants with all at stake.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Defeating an Pacific Island team was challenging on Saturday although the next encounter against the All Blacks will be the fixture that properly defines their November Tests. The All Blacks are not invincible, especially missing Jordie Barrett in their backline, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they are still a level above the majority of the northern hemisphere teams.

The Thistles were particularly guilty of missing the chance to secure the final nails and question marks still apply to the red rose's perfect backline combination. It is acceptable finishing games strongly – and infinitely better than succumbing at the death – but their admirable undefeated streak this year has so far shown just one success over elite-level teams, a narrow win over Les Bleus in earlier in the year.

Future Prospects

Hence the weight of this upround. Interpreting the signals it would appear various alterations are likely in the starting lineup, with key players coming back to the lineup. Among the forwards, similarly, first-choice players should return from the outset.

But context is key, in sport as in life. From now until the 2027 World Cup the {rest