🔗 Share this article

A number of triumphs send dual significance in the message they communicate. Among the flurry of weekend Test matches, it was Saturday night's result in Paris that will echo most enduringly across the rugby world. Not just the end result, but equally the manner of achievement. To say that South Africa overturned various comfortable assumptions would be an understatement of the calendar.

Unexpected Turnaround

Forget about the notion, for example, that France would rectify the unfairness of their World Cup elimination. Assuming that going into the last period with a small margin and an additional player would translate into assumed success. Even in the absence of their talisman Antoine Dupont, they still had ample strategies to restrain the big beasts safely at bay.

Instead, it was a case of assuming victory prematurely. After being trailing by four points, the 14-man Boks concluded with registering 19 consecutive points, confirming their standing as a side who consistently save their best for the most challenging scenarios. Whereas beating New Zealand 43-10 in earlier this year was a message, now came clear demonstration that the leading international squad are cultivating an greater resilience.

Forward Dominance

If anything, the coach's title-winning pack are beginning to make everyone else look laissez-faire by contrast. The Scottish and English sides both had their periods of promise over the weekend but did not have the same dominant forwards that systematically dismantled the home side to ruins in the final thirty minutes. Some promising young French forwards are emerging but, by the final whistle, the encounter was hommes contre garçons.

Even more notable was the psychological resilience underpinning it all. In the absence of Lood de Jager – issued a 38th-minute straight red for a dangerous contact of the opposition kicker – the Springboks could potentially become disorganized. As it happened they simply united and set about pulling the disheartened boys in blue to what one former French international described as “extreme physical pressure.”

Guidance and Example

Following the match, having been hoisted around the Stade de France on the gigantic shoulders of two key forwards to celebrate his century of appearances, the South African skipper, the flanker, repeatedly stressed how many of his team have been obliged to conquer life difficulties and how he aspired his squad would in the same way continue to motivate people.

The ever-sage David Flatman also made an astute point on sports media, proposing that the coach's achievements more and more make him the rugby coaching equivalent of the legendary football manager. If South Africa do go on to secure another global trophy there will be complete assurance. Even if they fall short, the intelligent way in which the mentor has revitalized a possibly veteran team has been an masterclass to all.

Emerging Talent

Take for example his emerging number 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who sprinted past for the closing score that properly blew open the home defense. Or the scrum-half, another backline player with blistering pace and an keener ability to spot openings. Naturally it is beneficial to have the support of a massive forward unit, with the inside back providing support, but the continuing evolution of the Boks from scowling heavyweights into a side who can also display finesse and strike decisively is hugely impressive.

Home Side's Moments

This is not to imply that the home side were completely dominated, notwithstanding their fading performance. The wing's later touchdown in the far side was a good illustration. The power up front that engaged the visiting eight, the glorious long pass from the full-back and the winger's clinical finish into the advertising hoardings all displayed the traits of a side with significant talent, despite missing Dupont.

However, that turned out to be insufficient, which really is a sobering thought for competing teams. There is no way, for example, that the Scottish side could have trailed heavily to the world champions and fought back in the way they did in their fixture. And for all England’s late resurgence, there remains a gap to close before the England team can be certain of competing with Erasmus’s green-clad giants with everything on the line.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Beating an developing Fijian side was challenging on the weekend although the next encounter against the the Kiwis will be the match that properly defines their November Tests. The All Blacks are certainly vulnerable, especially missing Jordie Barrett in their midfield, but when it comes to converting pressure into points they are still a level above the majority of the home unions.

The Scottish team were particularly guilty of failing to hammer home the decisive blows and doubts still hang over the English side's ideal backline blend. It is acceptable finishing games strongly – and infinitely better than losing them late on – but their commendable nine-match unbeaten run this year has so far featured only one win over world-class sides, a narrow win over France in the winter.

Future Prospects

Hence the weight of this upround. Interpreting the signals it would look like a number of adjustments are expected in the matchday squad, with key players coming back to the lineup. In the pack, in the same way, regular starters should return from the outset.

Yet context is key, in competition as in life. From now until the upcoming world championship the {rest