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Some victories deliver double significance in the message they convey. Amid the flurry of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was Saturday night's score in Paris that will echo most enduringly across the globe. Not only the final score, but also the approach of achievement. To say that the Springboks demolished several widely-held assumptions would be an understatement of the calendar.

Shifting Momentum

Forget about the notion, for example, that the French team would avenge the unfairness of their World Cup last-eight loss. Assuming that going into the final quarter with a slight advantage and an numerical superiority would translate into certain victory. That even without their key player their scrum-half, they still had ample tranquiliser darts to restrain the powerful opponents safely at bay.

On the contrary, it was a case of counting their poulets prematurely. After being trailing by four points, the 14-man Boks concluded with racking up 19 points without reply, strengthening their status as a side who consistently deliver their finest rugby for the toughest scenarios. While overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in September was a message, now came clear demonstration that the leading international squad are cultivating an more robust mentality.

Set-Piece Superiority

Actually, Rassie Erasmus’s champion Bok forwards are starting to make opposing sides look less intense by comparison. Both northern hemisphere teams both had their promising spells over the weekend but did not have the same powerful carriers that thoroughly overwhelmed France to ruins in the closing period. A number of talented young home nation players are developing but, by the end, the match was a mismatch in experience.

Even more notable was the psychological resilience supporting it all. Missing the second-rower – shown a 38th-minute straight red for a dangerous contact of Thomas Ramos – the Boks could potentially faltered. As it happened they just united and set about dragging the disheartened French side to what an ex-France player described as “extreme physical pressure.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Post-game, having been borne aloft around the Stade de France on the gigantic shoulders of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to celebrate his hundredth Test, the Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi, repeatedly emphasized how several of his squad have been needed to overcome off-field adversity and how he hoped his squad would in the same way continue to encourage people.

The ever-sage an analyst also made an perceptive point on broadcast, stating that Erasmus’s record progressively make him the parallel figure of the Manchester United great. Should the Springboks do go on to win a third successive World Cup there will be complete assurance. Should they come up short, the clever way in which Erasmus has revitalized a potentially ageing squad has been an exemplary model to other teams.

New Generation

Look no further than his emerging number 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who darted through for the decisive touchdown that properly blew open the opposition line. Or the scrum-half, a second half-back with explosive speed and an more acute eye for a gap. Naturally it is an advantage to operate behind a dominant set of forwards, with the inside back providing support, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the Boks from physically imposing units into a side who can also float like butterflies and deliver telling blows is hugely impressive.

Glimpses of French Quality

Which is not to say that the French team were completely dominated, in spite of their fading performance. Their winger's later touchdown in the far side was a good illustration. The set-piece strength that tied in the visiting eight, the excellent wide ball from Ramos and Penaud’s finishing dive into the advertising hoardings all exhibited the characteristics of a team with considerable ability, despite missing their captain.

However, that turned out to be insufficient, which truly represents a sobering thought for all other nations. There is no way, for instance, that the visitors could have gone 17-0 down to the world champions and fought back in the way they did versus New Zealand. And for all England’s late resurgence, there is a distance to travel before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be certain of competing with the South African powerhouses with high stakes.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Beating an Pacific Island team was challenging on Saturday although the forthcoming clash against the All Blacks will be the contest that accurately reflects their end-of-year series. New Zealand are definitely still beatable, especially missing their key midfielder in their backline, but when it comes to converting pressure into points they continue to be a step ahead the majority of the northern hemisphere teams.

The Thistles were notably at fault of not finishing off the final nails and uncertainties still surround the English side's perfect backline combination. It is acceptable performing in the final quarter – and much preferable than fading in the closing stages – but their commendable undefeated streak this year has so far shown just one success over world-class sides, a close result over France in the winter.

Looking Ahead

Thus the importance of this upround. Interpreting the signals it would appear various alterations are expected in the team selection, with key players returning to the team. In the pack, in the same way, regular starters should all be back from the start.

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