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Some victories carry double significance in the statement they communicate. Within the flood of weekend rugby Tests, it was the Saturday evening outcome in the French capital that will resonate longest across the rugby world. Not merely the conclusion, but equally the manner of achievement. To claim that the Springboks overturned various established theories would be an understatement of the calendar.

Shifting Momentum

Discard the idea, for instance, that France would make amends for the disappointment of their World Cup last-eight loss. The belief that entering the last period with a small margin and an numerical superiority would lead to inevitable glory. Despite missing their talisman their scrum-half, they still had ample resources to restrain the big beasts safely at bay.

As it turned out, it was a case of celebrating too soon too early. After being 17-13 down, the South African side with a player sent off ended up racking up 19 points without reply, reinforcing their status as a side who more and more save their best for the most challenging scenarios. If beating New Zealand 43-10 in earlier this year was a statement, now came conclusive proof that the world’s No 1 side are building an more robust mentality.

Set-Piece Superiority

If anything, Erasmus's title-winning pack are increasingly make everyone else look less committed by comparison. Both northern hemisphere teams each enjoyed their promising spells over the weekend but lacked entirely the same powerful carriers that systematically dismantled the home side to ruins in the last half-hour. Some promising young French forwards are developing but, by the end, Saturday night was men against boys.

Perhaps most impressive was the psychological resilience driving it all. Missing their lock forward – given a 38th-minute straight red for a shoulder to the head of the French full-back – the Boks could might well have faltered. Instead they just regrouped and set about dragging the disheartened boys in blue to what an ex-France player described as “a place of suffering.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Following the match, having been borne aloft around the Stade de France on the gigantic shoulders of two key forwards to celebrate his hundredth Test, the South African skipper, the flanker, repeatedly stressed how a significant number of his team have been needed to overcome personal challenges and how he hoped his squad would similarly continue to motivate people.

The perceptive David Flatman also made an shrewd point on television, suggesting that the coach's achievements more and more make him the parallel figure of the Manchester United great. If South Africa succeed in win a third successive World Cup there will be absolute certainty. Should they fail to achieve it, the smart way in which the mentor has revitalized a possibly veteran squad has been an masterclass to other teams.

New Generation

Look no further than his emerging number 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who darted through for the late try that properly blew open the home defense. Or the scrum-half, a further playmaker with blistering pace and an more acute eye for a gap. Of course it helps to play behind a massive forward unit, with the inside back adding physicality, but the continuing evolution of the South African team from scowling heavyweights into a team who can also move with agility and strike decisively is extraordinary.

Home Side's Moments

This is not to imply that the home side were utterly overwhelmed, despite their weak ending. Damian Penaud’s second try in the far side was a prime instance. The forward dominance that tied in the South African pack, the superb distribution from the playmaker and the try-scorer's execution into the advertising hoardings all displayed the traits of a side with considerable ability, even in the absence of their captain.

However, that turned out to be inadequate, which is a sobering thought for competing teams. It would be impossible, for instance, that the Scottish side could have trailed heavily to the world champions and fought back in the way they did against the All Blacks. Notwithstanding the red rose's last-quarter improvement, there is a gap to close before the England team can be assured of standing up to the world's top team with high stakes.

Home Nations' Tests

Defeating an Pacific Island team posed difficulties on match day although the upcoming showdown against the the Kiwis will be the contest that accurately reflects their end-of-year series. New Zealand are certainly vulnerable, particularly without an influential back in their center, but when it comes to converting pressure into points they continue to be a cut above the majority of the northern hemisphere teams.

The Scottish team were notably at fault of failing to hammer home the decisive blows and uncertainties still surround England’s ideal backline blend. It is all very well ending matches well – and infinitely better than succumbing at the death – but their admirable undefeated streak this year has so far featured only one win over top-drawer opposition, a narrow win over Les Bleus in the winter.

Looking Ahead

Thus the significance of this upround. Analyzing the situation it would seem several changes are likely in the team selection, with key players being reinstated to the lineup. Up front, similarly, familiar faces should return from the beginning.

Yet everything is relative, in rugby as in reality. Between now and the upcoming world championship the {rest