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Certain wins carry dual weight in the lesson they broadcast. Within the barrage of weekend Test matches, it was Saturday night's result in Paris that will echo most enduringly across both hemispheres. Not only the end result, but also the manner of achievement. To suggest that South Africa overturned several established beliefs would be an oversimplification of the rugby year.

Shifting Momentum

Forget about the theory, for instance, that France would avenge the disappointment of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. That entering the closing stages with a small margin and an additional player would translate into assumed success. That even without their talisman Antoine Dupont, they still had more than enough resources to contain the strong rivals at a distance.

As it turned out, it was a case of counting their poulets before time. Having been trailing by four points, the reduced Springboks ended up scoring 19 unanswered points, strengthening their standing as a side who more and more deliver their finest rugby for the toughest situations. If defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in September was a declaration, here was definitive evidence that the leading international squad are developing an more robust mentality.

Set-Piece Superiority

If anything, the coach's experienced front eight are increasingly make everyone else look less intense by contrast. Scotland and England experienced their periods of promise over the two-day period but lacked entirely the same earthmovers that thoroughly overwhelmed the home side to rubble in the closing period. Some promising young home nation players are coming through but, by the conclusion, Saturday night was men against boys.

What was perhaps even more striking was the psychological resilience driving it all. Missing the second-rower – issued a dismissal before halftime for a shoulder to the head of the opposition kicker – the Springboks could easily have faltered. On the contrary they just regrouped and set about pulling the demoralized boys in blue to what one former French international called “a place of suffering.”

Guidance and Example

Afterwards, having been hoisted around the Stade de France on the immense frames of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to celebrate his hundredth Test, the Springbok captain, the flanker, repeatedly highlighted how several of his squad have been obliged to rise above off-field adversity and how he hoped his squad would in the same way continue to inspire others.

The ever-sage a commentator also made an astute comment on television, suggesting that the coach's achievements progressively make him the rugby's version of Sir Alex Ferguson. In the event that the world champions do go on to claim a third straight world title there will be complete assurance. Should they fail to achieve it, the intelligent way in which the mentor has revitalized a potentially ageing team has been an object lesson to everyone.

New Generation

Look no further than his young playmaker the rising star who darted through for the closing score that decisively broke the home defense. And also Grant Williams, a second playmaker with explosive speed and an more acute vision for space. Of course it is beneficial to have the support of a massive forward unit, with André Esterhuizen riding shotgun, but the steady transformation of the Boks from scowling heavyweights into a team who can also display finesse and strike decisively is extraordinary.

Glimpses of French Quality

Which is not to say that the French team were utterly overwhelmed, notwithstanding their fading performance. Their winger's later touchdown in the right corner was a good illustration. The forward dominance that engaged the South African pack, the excellent wide ball from the playmaker and Penaud’s finishing dive into the sideline boards all demonstrated the characteristics of a side with significant talent, even in the absence of Dupont.

However, that ultimately proved insufficient, which truly represents a humbling reality for competing teams. There is no way, for example, that the Scottish side could have fallen behind by 17 points to South Africa and fought back in the way they did in their fixture. Despite England’s last-quarter improvement, there still exists a gap to close before the national side can be assured of facing the South African powerhouses with high stakes.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Defeating an Pacific Island team was challenging on the weekend although the forthcoming clash against the All Blacks will be the contest that accurately reflects their November Tests. The All Blacks are not invincible, especially missing their key midfielder in their midfield, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they remain a level above the majority of the European sides.

Scotland were notably at fault of not finishing off the decisive blows and question marks still hang over England’s perfect backline combination. It is acceptable ending matches well – and much preferable than losing them late on – but their notable nine-match unbeaten run this year has so far included just a single victory over world-class sides, a close result over the French in the winter.

Next Steps

Thus the importance of this next weekend. Interpreting the signals it would seem several changes are expected in the matchday squad, with experienced individuals being reinstated to the lineup. In the pack, similarly, familiar faces should all be back from the outset.

However context is key, in sport as in existence. In the lead-up to the upcoming world championship the {rest