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Some victories carry double significance in the statement they broadcast. Among the flood of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was Saturday night's score in Paris that will linger most enduringly across the globe. Not merely the conclusion, but also the manner of success. To claim that South Africa demolished several comfortable beliefs would be an oversimplification of the calendar.

Shifting Momentum

So much for the notion, for example, that France would rectify the disappointment of their World Cup elimination. That entering the last period with a small margin and an extra man would result in assumed success. Even in the absence of their talisman their captain, they still had more than enough strategies to keep the powerful opponents at a distance.

Instead, it was a case of counting their poulets before time. After being trailing by four points, the 14-man Boks concluded with scoring 19 unanswered points, strengthening their standing as a squad who consistently deliver their finest rugby for the toughest situations. While beating New Zealand 43-10 in earlier this year was a declaration, here was definitive evidence that the leading international squad are developing an more robust mentality.

Set-Piece Superiority

In fact, the coach's experienced front eight are increasingly make all other teams look less intense by comparison. Scotland and England experienced their moments over the two-day period but lacked entirely the same powerful carriers that systematically dismantled the home side to ruins in the final thirty minutes. A number of talented young France's pack members are coming through but, by the conclusion, the encounter was hommes contre garçons.

Even more notable was the mental strength supporting it all. Without their lock forward – issued a red card in the first half for a dangerous contact of the opposition kicker – the Springboks could easily have lost their composure. As it happened they simply circled the wagons and set about taking the demoralized French side to what a retired hooker referred to as “extreme physical pressure.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Following the match, having been hoisted around the Stade de France on the gigantic shoulders of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to honor his 100th cap, the South African skipper, the inspirational figure, yet again highlighted how several of his squad have been needed to rise above personal challenges and how he wished his team would likewise continue to motivate others.

The perceptive a commentator also made an perceptive comment on television, suggesting that his results increasingly make him the rugby's version of the legendary football manager. Should the Springboks succeed in claim a third straight world title there will be absolute certainty. Should they fail to achieve it, the intelligent way in which the coach has refreshed a experienced roster has been an object lesson to everyone.

Young Stars

Consider his emerging number 10 the newcomer who sprinted past for the decisive touchdown that effectively shattered the home defense. Additionally the scrum-half, a second backline player 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 André Esterhuizen providing support, but the continuing evolution of the Boks from physically imposing units into a team who can also float like butterflies and strike decisively is remarkable.

Glimpses of French Quality

However, it should not be thought that the home side were utterly overwhelmed, in spite of their fading performance. The wing's later touchdown in the wing area was a good illustration. The set-piece strength that occupied the Bok forwards, the glorious long pass from Ramos and the try-scorer's execution into the sideline boards all displayed the hallmarks of a side with significant talent, without their star man.

But even that turned out to be insufficient, which really is a daunting prospect for competing teams. There is no way, for example, that Scotland could have gone 17-0 down to the world champions and come galloping back in the way they did against the All Blacks. Despite England’s late resurgence, there remains a journey ahead before the England team can be assured of facing the world's top team with high stakes.

European Prospects

Beating an improving Fiji posed difficulties on the weekend although the upcoming showdown against the New Zealand will be the fixture that truly shapes their end-of-year series. New Zealand are not invincible, notably absent an influential back in their midfield, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they remain a level above the majority of the European sides.

The Thistles were particularly guilty of not finishing off the decisive blows and uncertainties still apply to the red rose's perfect backline combination. It is all very well performing in the final quarter – and far superior than succumbing at the death – but their admirable nine-match unbeaten run this year has so far included just a single victory over world-class sides, a narrow win over the French in the winter.

Future Prospects

Hence the importance of this coming Saturday. Reading between the lines it would look like a number of adjustments are likely in the starting lineup, with key players returning to the lineup. In the pack, likewise, first-choice players should all be back from the start.

However everything is relative, in competition as in existence. Between now and the next global tournament the {rest