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Certain wins send double weight in the lesson they communicate. Among the flurry of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was Saturday night's score in the French capital that will resonate most enduringly across the rugby world. Not merely the conclusion, but the way the style of achievement. To say that South Africa demolished several widely-held beliefs would be an modest description of the season.

Surprising Comeback

Forget about the theory, for example, that the French team would rectify the disappointment of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. Assuming that going into the final quarter with a narrow lead and an additional player would result in certain victory. Despite missing their star man their scrum-half, they still had ample strategies to restrain the strong rivals safely at bay.

Instead, it was a case of counting their poulets too early. After being 17-13 down, the reduced Springboks concluded with scoring 19 unanswered points, confirming their reputation as a team who increasingly reserve their top performance for the most challenging circumstances. If beating New Zealand 43-10 in earlier this year was a message, now came definitive evidence that the leading international squad are cultivating an even thicker skin.

Pack Power

In fact, Rassie Erasmus’s title-winning pack are beginning to make everyone else look laissez-faire by juxtaposition. Both northern hemisphere teams each enjoyed their promising spells over the recent fixtures but possessed nothing like the same powerful carriers that effectively reduced the French pack to landfill in the final thirty minutes. Some promising young French forwards are developing but, by the final whistle, the encounter was a mismatch in experience.

Even more notable was the psychological resilience driving it all. In the absence of the second-rower – given a 38th-minute straight red for a dangerous contact of the opposition kicker – the Boks could might well have lost their composure. On the contrary they merely circled the wagons and set about dragging the disheartened home team to what one former French international described as “a place of suffering.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Afterwards, having been borne aloft around the venue on the immense frames of the lock pairing to celebrate his century of appearances, the Springbok captain, the flanker, repeatedly emphasized how a significant number of his players have been needed to conquer life difficulties and how he wished his team would similarly continue to encourage fans.

The perceptive an analyst also made an shrewd observation on television, stating that the coach's achievements progressively make him the parallel figure of Sir Alex Ferguson. If South Africa manage to win a third successive World Cup there will be no doubt whatsoever. In case they fail to achieve it, the clever way in which Erasmus has rejuvenated a potentially ageing roster has been an exemplary model to everyone.

New Generation

Consider his emerging number 10 the newcomer who sprinted past for the late try that decisively broke the home defense. Additionally Grant Williams, a further half-back with blistering pace and an more acute ability to spot openings. Undoubtedly it is beneficial to play behind a massive forward unit, with André Esterhuizen providing support, but the steady transformation of the Springboks from physically imposing units into a side who can also float like butterflies and sting like bees is extraordinary.

French Flashes

Which is not to say that the French team were completely dominated, in spite of their fading performance. Their winger's second try in the right corner was a good illustration. The set-piece strength that tied in the South African pack, the excellent wide ball from the playmaker and the try-scorer's execution into the advertising hoardings all exhibited the traits of a team with significant talent, without their captain.

However, that ultimately proved not enough, which is a daunting prospect for everybody else. It is inconceivable, for example, that Scotland could have gone 17-0 down to South Africa and fought back in the way they did versus New Zealand. And for all England’s last-quarter improvement, there is a journey ahead before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be assured of facing the South African powerhouses with everything on the line.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Beating an developing Fijian side was challenging on Saturday although the upcoming showdown against the New Zealand will be the match that properly defines their November Tests. New Zealand are certainly vulnerable, especially missing their key midfielder in their midfield, but when it comes to taking their chances they are still a cut above almost all the home unions.

The Thistles were especially culpable of not finishing off the killing points and question marks still surround the English side's ideal backline blend. It is all very well finishing games strongly – and far superior than succumbing at the death – but their notable winning sequence this year has so far included just a single victory over elite-level teams, a one-point home victory over France in February.

Future Prospects

Hence the importance of this next weekend. Reading between the lines it would appear various alterations are anticipated in the matchday squad, with key players being reinstated to the side. Among the forwards, similarly, familiar faces should all be back from the start.

However perspective matters, in competition as in existence. Between now and the upcoming world championship the {rest