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A number of triumphs deliver twofold significance in the message they convey. Among the flood of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was the Saturday evening outcome in the French capital that will resonate most enduringly across the rugby world. Not merely the conclusion, but also the approach of achievement. To claim that South Africa shattered various established assumptions would be an understatement of the rugby year.

Shifting Momentum

Discard the theory, for example, that France would rectify the unfairness of their World Cup elimination. Assuming that going into the final quarter with a narrow lead and an additional player would result in assumed success. Despite missing their key player their scrum-half, they still had ample strategies to keep the powerful opponents safely at bay.

As it turned out, it was a case of celebrating too soon before time. Initially 17-13 down, the South African side with a player sent off finished by registering 19 consecutive points, reinforcing their status as a team who more and more save their best for the toughest situations. If beating New Zealand 43-10 in earlier this year was a message, here was definitive evidence that the world’s No 1 side are building an more robust mentality.

Pack Power

In fact, Rassie Erasmus’s experienced front eight are beginning to make opposing sides look laissez-faire by juxtaposition. Scotland and England both had their promising spells over the two-day period but lacked entirely the same earthmovers that thoroughly overwhelmed France to rubble in the final thirty minutes. Some promising young France's pack members are developing but, by the conclusion, the encounter was men against boys.

What was perhaps even more striking was the inner fortitude underpinning it all. Without their lock forward – shown a dismissal before halftime for a high tackle of the opposition kicker – the South Africans could easily have faltered. On the contrary they merely circled the wagons and set about pulling the deflated home team to what one former French international referred to as “a place of suffering.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Post-game, having been borne aloft around the Stade de France on the powerful backs of the lock pairing to honor his hundredth Test, the team leader, Siya Kolisi, repeatedly stressed how several of his squad have been obliged to rise above personal challenges and how he aspired his team would similarly continue to motivate people.

The ever-sage a commentator also made an astute observation on television, stating that the coach's achievements more and more make him the rugby's version of Sir Alex Ferguson. If South Africa manage to secure another global trophy there will be complete assurance. In case they come up short, the smart way in which the coach has revitalized a potentially ageing team has been an masterclass to everyone.

Emerging Talent

Consider his young playmaker the newcomer who skipped over for the late try that effectively shattered the home defense. Additionally another half-back, a second backline player with blistering pace and an even sharper ability to spot openings. Undoubtedly it helps to play behind a massive forward unit, with the powerful center riding shotgun, but the steady transformation of the South African team from physically imposing units into a side who can also float like butterflies and deliver telling blows is hugely impressive.

Home Side's Moments

However, it should not be thought that France were utterly overwhelmed, in spite of their weak ending. The wing's additional score in the far side was a prime instance. The power up front that tied in the Bok forwards, the glorious long pass from the playmaker and Penaud’s finishing dive into the advertising hoardings all exhibited the traits of a team with significant talent, despite missing Dupont.

But even that ultimately proved insufficient, which really is a daunting prospect for everybody else. It is inconceivable, for instance, that Scotland could have gone 17-0 down to South Africa and fought back in the way they did in their fixture. Despite the English team's strong finish, there is a gap to close before the England team can be confident of standing up to the South African powerhouses with all at stake.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Defeating an improving Fiji proved tricky enough on the weekend although the next encounter against the New Zealand will be the contest that properly defines their November Tests. The All Blacks are definitely still beatable, notably absent an influential back in their backline, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they remain a level above almost all the home unions.

The Scottish team were notably at fault of missing the chance to secure the final nails and uncertainties still surround the English side's optimal back division. It is all very well finishing games strongly – and far superior than losing them late on – but their admirable undefeated streak this year has so far shown just one success over world-class sides, a narrow win over Les Bleus in February.

Future Prospects

Hence the weight of this next weekend. Interpreting the signals it would appear a number of adjustments are likely in the matchday squad, with established stars being reinstated to the team. Among the forwards, in the same way, first-choice players should return from the beginning.

But everything is relative, in sport as in existence. In the lead-up to the next global tournament the {rest