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A number of triumphs send dual weight in the message they convey. Amid the flurry of weekend rugby Tests, it was Saturday night's outcome in Paris that will linger most profoundly across the rugby world. Not merely the end result, but also the approach of victory. To claim that South Africa demolished various widely-held theories would be an oversimplification of the calendar.

Surprising Comeback

So much for the notion, for instance, that the French team would avenge the unfairness of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. The belief that entering the last period with a small margin and an numerical superiority would translate into inevitable glory. That even without their talisman Antoine Dupont, they still had more than enough tranquiliser darts to keep the big beasts at a distance.

Instead, it was a case of counting their poulets prematurely. Initially behind on the scoreboard, the reduced Springboks ended up registering 19 consecutive points, reinforcing their standing as a team who consistently save their best for the most challenging situations. While overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in the last quarter was a statement, this was definitive evidence that the top-ranked team are building an even thicker skin.

Pack Power

If anything, Rassie Erasmus’s champion Bok forwards are increasingly make opposing sides look less intense by comparison. Both northern hemisphere teams both had their periods of promise over the weekend but lacked entirely the same powerful carriers that effectively reduced the French pack to rubble in the last half-hour. Some promising young France's pack members are developing but, by the final whistle, the match was a mismatch in experience.

Even more notable was the psychological resilience supporting it all. Missing the second-rower – given a 38th-minute straight red for a dangerous contact of the opposition kicker – the Boks could might well have faltered. As it happened they just circled the wagons and began dragging the demoralized boys in blue to what one former French international referred to as “extreme physical pressure.”

Guidance and Example

Post-game, having been carried around the venue on the powerful backs of two key forwards to honor his hundredth Test, the team leader, Siya Kolisi, repeatedly highlighted how a significant number of his squad have been needed to conquer life difficulties and how he hoped his side would similarly continue to encourage fans.

The ever-sage an analyst also made an shrewd comment on sports media, proposing that his results progressively make him the parallel figure of Sir Alex Ferguson. Should the Springboks manage to win a third successive World Cup there will be complete assurance. Even if they come up short, the clever way in which the coach has revitalized a experienced team has been an object lesson to other teams.

Young Stars

Look no further than his 23-year-old fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who skipped over for the decisive touchdown that effectively shattered the home defense. Or another half-back, a further half-back with lightning acceleration and an even sharper ability to spot openings. Undoubtedly it is an advantage to have the support of a massive forward unit, with the powerful center providing support, but the continuing evolution of the South African team from physically imposing units into a squad who can also move with agility and sting like bees is extraordinary.

French Flashes

This is not to imply that the home side were utterly overwhelmed, in spite of their fading performance. The wing's later touchdown in the wing area was a prime instance. The forward dominance that tied in the visiting eight, the glorious long pass from the playmaker and the try-scorer's execution into the sideline boards all demonstrated the characteristics of a squad with notable skill, without their captain.

Yet that in the end was inadequate, which truly represents a daunting prospect for all other nations. There is no way, for instance, that Scotland could have trailed heavily to the world champions and fought back in the way they did in their fixture. Notwithstanding the red rose's late resurgence, there remains a gap to close before the England team can be confident of facing Erasmus’s green-clad giants with everything on the line.

Home Nations' Tests

Beating an improving Fiji proved tricky enough on the weekend although the next encounter against the All Blacks will be the match that truly shapes their November Tests. The All Blacks are not invincible, notably absent Jordie Barrett in their midfield, but when it comes to converting pressure into points they remain a level above almost all the northern hemisphere teams.

The Thistles were notably at fault of missing the chance to secure the killing points and question marks still surround the English side's perfect backline combination. It is all very well performing in the final quarter – and infinitely better than fading in the closing stages – but their commendable undefeated streak this year has so far featured only one win over world-class sides, a close result over the French in earlier in the year.

Next Steps

Hence the significance of this upround. Reading between the lines it would look like various alterations are anticipated in the starting lineup, with key players coming back to the side. In the pack, similarly, first-choice players should be included from the start.

Yet everything is relative, in competition as in reality. In the lead-up to the upcoming world championship the {rest