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Some victories send twofold weight in the lesson they broadcast. Amid the barrage of weekend Test matches, it was the Saturday evening score in Paris that will linger most profoundly across both hemispheres. Not just the end result, but the way the approach of victory. To claim that South Africa overturned several comfortable theories would be an understatement of the calendar.

Shifting Momentum

Forget about the theory, for example, that the French team would make amends for the unfairness of their World Cup last-eight loss. Assuming that going into the closing stages with a small margin and an additional player would result in assumed success. Even in the absence of their talisman their captain, they still had more than enough strategies to contain the powerful opponents under control.

On the contrary, it was a case of celebrating too soon too early. Having been behind on the scoreboard, the South African side with a player sent off concluded with registering 19 consecutive points, strengthening their reputation as a squad who more and more save their best for the toughest scenarios. Whereas defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in earlier this year was a message, here was clear demonstration that the top-ranked team are building an more robust mentality.

Pack Power

If anything, Erasmus's title-winning pack are increasingly make everyone else look laissez-faire by juxtaposition. Both northern hemisphere teams both had their periods of promise over the two-day period but possessed nothing like the same earthmovers that systematically dismantled the French pack to landfill in the last half-hour. Several up-and-coming young French forwards are coming through but, by the end, the match was hommes contre garçons.

Even more notable was the psychological resilience driving it all. Without the second-rower – given a dismissal before halftime for a dangerous contact of Thomas Ramos – the Boks could easily have lost their composure. On the contrary they just circled the wagons and began taking the disheartened French side to what a retired hooker called “a place of suffering.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Following the match, having been hoisted around the venue on the gigantic shoulders of two key forwards to celebrate his 100th cap, the team leader, the inspirational figure, once again emphasized how several of his team have been obliged to rise above off-field adversity and how he wished his side would similarly continue to inspire fans.

The insightful a commentator also made an shrewd observation on television, proposing that his results progressively make him the parallel figure of Sir Alex Ferguson. Should the Springboks manage to secure another global trophy there will be complete assurance. In case they fall short, the clever way in which Erasmus has revitalized a experienced roster has been an exemplary model to other teams.

New Generation

Take for example his young playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who skipped over for the late try that decisively broke the French windows. Or Grant Williams, a further half-back with explosive speed and an keener vision for space. Naturally it helps to have the support of a massive forward unit, with the inside back providing support, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the South African team from scowling heavyweights into a side who can also move with agility and deliver telling blows is extraordinary.

Home Side's Moments

Which is not to say that France were utterly overwhelmed, notwithstanding their fading performance. Their winger's second try in the far side was a clear example. The forward dominance that tied in the South African pack, the glorious long pass from Ramos and the winger's clinical finish into the advertising hoardings all demonstrated the traits of a squad with significant talent, without their star man.

Yet that in the end was not enough, which truly represents a daunting prospect for everybody else. It would be impossible, for instance, that the Scottish side could have trailed heavily to South Africa and come galloping back in the way they did against the All Blacks. And for all the red rose's last-quarter improvement, there is a distance to travel before the national side can be assured of competing with Erasmus’s green-clad giants with all at stake.

European Prospects

Defeating an developing Fijian side was challenging 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 definitely still beatable, particularly without an influential back in their backline, but when it comes to taking their chances they are still a cut above almost all the home unions.

Scotland were particularly guilty of not finishing off the killing points and doubts still surround the red rose's optimal back division. It is all very well performing in the final quarter – and infinitely better than losing them late on – but their commendable undefeated streak this year has so far shown just one success over elite-level teams, a narrow win over France in the winter.

Next Steps

Thus the weight of this coming Saturday. Reading between the lines it would seem several changes are expected in the team selection, with key players coming back to the team. Among the forwards, similarly, first-choice players should all be back from the outset.

But everything is relative, in rugby as in life. From now until the upcoming world championship the {rest