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Certain wins deliver dual weight in the statement they communicate. Amid the flood of weekend Test matches, it was the Saturday evening score in the French capital that will echo longest across both hemispheres. Not just the conclusion, but also the style of achievement. To say that South Africa overturned a number of comfortable assumptions would be an oversimplification of the season.

Shifting Momentum

Forget about the theory, for example, that the French team would make amends for the disappointment of their World Cup elimination. Assuming that going into the closing stages with a slight advantage and an extra man would result in certain victory. Despite missing their talisman their scrum-half, they still had more than enough strategies to keep the powerful opponents under control.

Instead, it was a case of assuming victory prematurely. Having been trailing by four points, the 14-man Boks finished by racking up 19 points without reply, confirming their reputation as a side who more and more reserve their top performance for the most demanding scenarios. Whereas overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in the last quarter was a statement, now came definitive evidence that the top-ranked team are building an greater resilience.

Set-Piece Superiority

If anything, Erasmus's title-winning pack are beginning to make everyone else look laissez-faire by contrast. Scotland and England experienced their moments over the recent fixtures but did not have the same earthmovers that systematically dismantled France to ruins in the final thirty minutes. Some promising young home nation players are coming through but, by the end, the match was men against boys.

Even more notable was the psychological resilience underpinning it all. Without their lock forward – given a red card in the first half for a dangerous contact of the French full-back – the Boks could potentially lost their composure. On the contrary they just united and set about dragging the demoralized home team to what an ex-France player referred to as “a place of suffering.”

Guidance and Example

Afterwards, having been borne aloft around the venue on the gigantic shoulders of two key forwards to honor his 100th cap, the South African skipper, the inspirational figure, yet again emphasized how several of his team have been needed to rise above life difficulties and how he wished his squad would in the same way continue to motivate people.

The perceptive a commentator also made an perceptive observation on broadcast, suggesting that Erasmus’s record progressively make him the rugby's version of Sir Alex Ferguson. If South Africa do go on to win a third successive World Cup there will be absolute certainty. In case they fail to achieve it, the clever way in which the mentor has refreshed a potentially ageing team has been an object lesson to everyone.

Young Stars

Take for example his emerging number 10 the rising star who skipped over for the late try that effectively shattered the home defense. Or the scrum-half, another playmaker with explosive speed and an keener eye for a gap. Undoubtedly it is beneficial to operate behind a dominant set of forwards, with André Esterhuizen adding physicality, but the steady transformation of the South African team from physically imposing units into a team who can also display finesse and sting like bees is remarkable.

Glimpses of French Quality

Which is not to say that the home side were utterly overwhelmed, despite their limp finish. Their winger's additional score in the far side was a prime instance. The forward dominance that engaged the visiting eight, the glorious long pass from the full-back and the winger's clinical finish into the advertising hoardings all exhibited the characteristics of a team with significant talent, despite missing Dupont.

But even that in the end was insufficient, which truly represents a humbling reality for everybody else. It is inconceivable, for example, that the Scottish side could have trailed heavily to the Springboks and come galloping back in the way they did versus New Zealand. Notwithstanding England’s late resurgence, there still exists a gap to close before the England team can be certain of facing the South African powerhouses with high stakes.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Defeating an improving Fiji proved tricky enough on match day although the forthcoming clash against the New Zealand will be the fixture that truly shapes their autumn. The All Blacks are certainly vulnerable, especially missing Jordie Barrett in their midfield, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they are still a step ahead most the northern hemisphere teams.

The Scottish team were particularly guilty of failing to hammer home the killing points and question marks still apply to the English side's optimal back division. It is all very well ending matches well – and infinitely better than fading in the closing stages – but their admirable winning sequence this year has so far featured only one win over world-class sides, a close result over France in February.

Next Steps

Therefore the weight of this coming Saturday. Interpreting the signals it would seem various alterations are expected in the matchday squad, with experienced individuals returning to the side. Among the forwards, in the same way, regular starters should all be back from the start.

However context is key, in competition as in existence. Between now and the upcoming world championship the {rest