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Certain wins deliver dual weight in the lesson they communicate. Amid the flood of weekend rugby Tests, it was the Saturday evening score in Paris that will linger most profoundly across the globe. Not just the end result, but also the style of success. To say that South Africa overturned several established beliefs would be an oversimplification of the season.

Surprising Comeback

So much for the idea, for instance, that France would make amends for the injustice of their World Cup last-eight loss. Assuming that going into the final quarter with a small margin and an numerical superiority would translate into inevitable glory. Even in the absence of their key player their scrum-half, they still had ample resources to keep the powerful opponents at a distance.

Instead, it was a case of assuming victory prematurely. After being 17-13 down, the reduced Springboks concluded with scoring 19 unanswered points, strengthening their standing as a side who more and more reserve their top performance for the toughest circumstances. Whereas defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in the last quarter was a statement, this was clear demonstration that the leading international squad are cultivating an more robust mentality.

Forward Dominance

If anything, Erasmus's experienced front eight are starting to make everyone else look less intense by juxtaposition. Both northern hemisphere teams both had their periods of promise over the recent fixtures but possessed nothing like the same earthmovers that systematically dismantled the home side to ruins in the last half-hour. A number of talented young home nation players are developing but, by the final whistle, the encounter was a mismatch in experience.

Perhaps most impressive was the inner fortitude driving it all. Without their lock forward – issued a red card in the first half for a dangerous contact of the French full-back – the South Africans could easily have lost their composure. On the contrary they just united and began taking the demoralized French side to what an ex-France player referred to as “the hurt locker.”

Leadership and Inspiration

Following the match, having been carried around the Parisian stadium on the gigantic shoulders of two key forwards to mark his hundredth Test, the team leader, the inspirational figure, once again emphasized how a significant number of his players have been obliged to rise above off-field adversity and how he hoped his squad would similarly continue to encourage fans.

The perceptive an analyst also made an shrewd observation on television, suggesting that Erasmus’s record increasingly make him the rugby coaching equivalent of the Manchester United great. In the event that the world champions do go on to claim a third straight world title there will be absolute certainty. Should they come up short, 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 23-year-old fly-half the newcomer who skipped over for the late try that decisively broke the home defense. Or Grant Williams, another half-back with explosive speed and an more acute ability to spot openings. Undoubtedly it helps to operate behind a gargantuan pack, with the powerful center riding shotgun, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the South African team from physically imposing units into a squad who can also move with agility and strike decisively is extraordinary.

Glimpses of French Quality

This is not to imply that France were completely dominated, in spite of their limp finish. The wing's second try in the far side was a prime instance. The power up front that engaged the Bok forwards, the superb distribution from Ramos and the try-scorer's execution into the advertising hoardings all displayed the hallmarks of a squad with notable skill, without their captain.

However, that ultimately proved not enough, which is a daunting prospect for everybody else. There is no way, for example, that the visitors could have fallen behind by 17 points to the world champions and mounted a comeback in the way they did versus New Zealand. Despite the red rose's last-quarter improvement, there is a distance to travel before the national side can be confident of competing with Erasmus’s green-clad giants with high stakes.

Home Nations' Tests

Defeating an developing Fijian side posed difficulties on the weekend although the next encounter against the New Zealand will be the contest that truly shapes their November Tests. The All Blacks are definitely still beatable, particularly without Jordie Barrett in their center, but when it comes to taking their chances they are still a step ahead almost all the northern hemisphere teams.

Scotland were especially culpable of missing the chance to secure the decisive blows and uncertainties still apply to England’s ideal backline blend. It is acceptable finishing games strongly – and infinitely better than losing them late on – but their admirable winning sequence this year has so far shown just one success over top-drawer opposition, a one-point home victory over Les Bleus in the winter.

Looking Ahead

Thus the weight of this next weekend. Analyzing the situation it would look like several changes are expected in the starting lineup, with key players being reinstated to the team. Among the forwards, similarly, first-choice players should all be back from the outset.

But context is key, in sport as in life. Between now and the next global tournament the {rest