A number of triumphs carry double importance in the message they communicate. Within the flurry of weekend rugby Tests, it was the Saturday evening score in the French capital that will linger longest across the rugby world. Not just the conclusion, but equally the style of victory. To suggest that South Africa demolished various established beliefs would be an modest description of the calendar.
Shifting Momentum
So much for the idea, for instance, that France would rectify the unfairness of their World Cup elimination. That entering the last period with a narrow lead and an numerical superiority would lead to inevitable glory. Even in the absence of their key player their captain, they still had more than enough resources to contain the powerful opponents at a distance.
As it turned out, it was a case of counting their poulets prematurely. After being 17-13 down, the 14-man Boks ended up racking up 19 points without reply, reinforcing their status as a side who more and more deliver their finest rugby for the most demanding situations. If defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in earlier this year was a message, this was clear demonstration that the world’s No 1 side are developing an even thicker skin.
Pack Power
Actually, the coach's title-winning pack are beginning to make everyone else look laissez-faire by juxtaposition. The Scottish and English sides experienced their moments over the recent fixtures but did not have the same earthmovers that systematically dismantled the French pack to landfill in the final thirty minutes. Some promising young home nation players are developing but, by the conclusion, the match was men against boys.
Even more notable was the psychological resilience supporting it all. In the absence of their lock forward – given a dismissal before halftime for a high tackle of the French full-back – the Boks could easily have lost their composure. As it happened they simply united and set about taking the deflated boys in blue to what an ex-France player called “extreme physical pressure.”
Captaincy and Motivation
Post-game, having been carried around the Parisian stadium on the gigantic shoulders of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to honor his hundredth Test, the team leader, Siya Kolisi, yet again highlighted how several of his squad have been obliged to conquer off-field adversity and how he wished his squad would likewise continue to motivate fans.
The insightful an analyst also made an astute point on television, suggesting that his results progressively make him the rugby's version of the Manchester United great. In the event that the world champions succeed in win a third successive World Cup there will be absolute certainty. Should they come up short, the clever way in which the coach has revitalized a experienced team has been an exemplary model to other teams.
Young Stars
Consider his young playmaker the newcomer who skipped over for the late try that properly blew open the opposition line. Additionally another half-back, a second half-back with explosive speed and an even sharper ability to spot openings. Of course it is beneficial to have the support of a gargantuan pack, with André Esterhuizen providing support, but the continuing evolution of the Springboks from intimidating giants into a team who can also float like butterflies and sting like bees is hugely impressive.
Glimpses of French Quality
However, it should not be thought that the French team were utterly overwhelmed, despite their limp finish. The wing's additional score in the wing area was a good illustration. The forward dominance that tied in the visiting eight, the superb distribution from the playmaker and the winger's clinical finish into the perimeter signage all displayed the traits of a side with significant talent, without Dupont.
Yet that turned out to be insufficient, which truly represents a daunting prospect for competing teams. It would be impossible, for example, that the visitors could have fallen behind by 17 points to the world champions and fought back in the way they did versus New Zealand. And for all the red rose's last-quarter improvement, there remains a gap to close before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be confident of standing up to the world's top team with high stakes.
European Prospects
Defeating an developing Fijian side proved tricky enough on the weekend although the upcoming showdown against the New Zealand will be the fixture that truly shapes their end-of-year series. The visitors are not invincible, notably absent an influential back in their center, but when it comes to taking their chances they continue to be a step ahead almost all the European sides.
The Thistles were particularly guilty of missing the chance to secure the final nails and doubts still apply to the red rose's ideal backline blend. It is all very well finishing games strongly – and far superior than succumbing at the death – but their commendable undefeated streak this year has so far shown just one success over world-class sides, a one-point home victory over France in the winter.
Future Prospects
Therefore the significance of this next weekend. Reading between the lines it would look like various alterations are expected in the starting lineup, with key players coming back to the side. Among the forwards, in the same way, first-choice players should return from the beginning.
But perspective matters, in sport as in life. In the lead-up to the upcoming world championship the {rest
