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Certain wins deliver double significance in the message they broadcast. Among the flurry of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was the Saturday evening outcome in the French capital that will linger most enduringly across the globe. Not just the conclusion, but the way the manner of victory. To suggest that South Africa demolished a number of comfortable assumptions would be an understatement of the calendar.

Surprising Comeback

Forget about the theory, for example, that France would make amends for the disappointment of their World Cup elimination. Assuming that going into the last period with a small margin and an extra man would translate into certain victory. Despite missing their talisman their captain, they still had ample resources to keep the strong rivals safely at bay.

As it turned out, it was a case of assuming victory too early. Having been behind on the scoreboard, the South African side with a player sent off concluded with racking up 19 points without reply, strengthening their standing as a side who increasingly deliver their finest rugby for the most challenging situations. Whereas beating New Zealand 43-10 in earlier this year was a declaration, here was definitive evidence that the top-ranked team are building an more robust mentality.

Forward Dominance

In fact, the coach's experienced front eight are starting to make all other teams look laissez-faire by juxtaposition. Scotland and England experienced their moments over the two-day period but possessed nothing like the same powerful carriers that thoroughly overwhelmed France to ruins in the last half-hour. Some promising young France's pack members are developing but, by the end, the match was a mismatch in experience.

Even more notable was the mental strength supporting it all. In the absence of Lood de Jager – given a red card in the first half for a dangerous contact of Thomas Ramos – the Springboks could potentially faltered. On the contrary they merely united and set about taking the deflated boys in blue to what one former French international referred to as “a place of suffering.”

Leadership and Inspiration

Post-game, having been borne aloft around the venue on the gigantic shoulders of two key forwards to celebrate his century of appearances, the Springbok captain, the flanker, once again stressed how a significant number of his team have been obliged to rise above life difficulties and how he wished his squad would likewise continue to motivate people.

The perceptive an analyst also made an perceptive observation on broadcast, suggesting that Erasmus’s record increasingly make him the rugby coaching equivalent of the Manchester United great. In the event that the world champions manage to win a third successive World Cup there will be complete assurance. In case they come up short, the intelligent way in which the coach has revitalized a possibly veteran team has been an object lesson to everyone.

Young Stars

Take for example his 23-year-old fly-half the newcomer who sprinted past for the decisive touchdown that effectively shattered the French windows. Or Grant Williams, another playmaker with lightning acceleration and an even sharper vision for space. Of course it helps to play behind a gargantuan pack, with the inside back adding physicality, but the continuing evolution of the South African team from intimidating giants into a team who can also display finesse and deliver telling blows is extraordinary.

Glimpses of French Quality

Which is not to say that France were completely dominated, in spite of their limp finish. Damian Penaud’s later touchdown in the far side was a clear example. The set-piece strength that engaged the visiting eight, the superb distribution from the playmaker and Penaud’s finishing dive into the advertising hoardings all demonstrated the hallmarks of a team with notable skill, without their star man.

But even that turned out to be insufficient, which really is a daunting prospect for competing teams. It would be impossible, for example, that the Scottish side could have gone 17-0 down to the Springboks and come galloping back in the way they did in their fixture. And for all England’s late resurgence, there is a distance to travel before the England team can be assured of competing with the world's top team with all at stake.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Overcoming an improving Fiji was challenging on the weekend although the next encounter against the All Blacks will be the fixture that truly shapes their November Tests. The visitors are certainly vulnerable, particularly without their key midfielder in their backline, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they remain a cut above most the northern hemisphere teams.

Scotland were notably at fault of failing to hammer home the final nails and question marks still apply to the red rose's ideal backline blend. It is all very well finishing games strongly – and far superior than losing them late on – but their admirable nine-match unbeaten run this year has so far included just a single victory over world-class sides, a close result over France in the winter.

Future Prospects

Thus the significance of this next weekend. Reading between the lines it would appear several changes are expected in the starting lineup, with key players coming back to the side. In the pack, similarly, familiar faces should return from the outset.

But context is key, in rugby as in existence. In the lead-up to the next global tournament the {rest