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A number of triumphs send double weight in the lesson they broadcast. Amid the flood of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was the Saturday evening result in Paris that will echo most enduringly across the rugby world. Not just the final score, but the way the manner of success. To claim that South Africa demolished several widely-held theories would be an understatement of the season.

Surprising Comeback

Discard the notion, for example, that France would make amends for the injustice of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. Assuming that going into the last period with a narrow lead and an extra man would translate into certain victory. Despite missing their star man Antoine Dupont, they still had ample strategies to keep the powerful opponents at a distance.

As it turned out, it was a case of assuming victory before time. Having been trailing by four points, the reduced Springboks ended up scoring 19 unanswered points, confirming their status as a side who increasingly reserve their top performance for the most challenging circumstances. If overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in earlier this year was a statement, now came definitive evidence that the world’s No 1 side are cultivating an even thicker skin.

Set-Piece Superiority

Actually, Erasmus's title-winning pack are increasingly make all other teams look less intense by juxtaposition. Scotland and England each enjoyed their periods of promise over the weekend but did not have the same powerful carriers that thoroughly overwhelmed the home side to ruins in the closing period. A number of talented young French forwards are coming through but, by the final whistle, the encounter was a mismatch in experience.

Perhaps most impressive was the inner fortitude supporting it all. Missing their lock forward – issued a red card in the first half for a dangerous contact of the French full-back – the South Africans could potentially lost their composure. As it happened they simply regrouped and proceeded to pulling the disheartened boys in blue to what an ex-France player described as “extreme physical pressure.”

Leadership and Inspiration

Following the match, having been borne aloft around the Parisian stadium on the immense frames of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to celebrate his hundredth Test, the South African skipper, Siya Kolisi, once again highlighted how many of his team have been needed to conquer life difficulties and how he wished his side would likewise continue to encourage others.

The perceptive an analyst also made an astute observation on sports media, proposing that his results increasingly make him the rugby coaching equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson. If South Africa do go on to win a third successive World Cup there will be absolute certainty. Even if they fail to achieve it, the clever way in which the mentor has revitalized a potentially ageing team has been an exemplary model to other teams.

Emerging Talent

Look no further than his young playmaker the rising star who darted through for the late try that effectively shattered the opposition line. Or the scrum-half, another playmaker with lightning acceleration and an even sharper eye for a gap. Of course it helps to have the support of a gargantuan pack, with the inside back adding physicality, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the Springboks from physically imposing units into a side who can also display finesse and deliver telling blows is remarkable.

Glimpses of French Quality

This is not to imply that the French team were totally outclassed, despite their fading performance. Damian Penaud’s second try in the right corner was a prime instance. The set-piece strength that engaged the Bok forwards, the glorious long pass from the playmaker and the winger's clinical finish into the sideline boards all displayed the traits of a side with significant talent, even in the absence of their star man.

However, that turned out to be not enough, which really is a humbling reality for everybody else. It is inconceivable, for instance, that the visitors could have fallen behind by 17 points to South Africa and mounted a comeback in the way they did against the All Blacks. Despite England’s last-quarter improvement, there still exists a journey ahead before the national side can be assured of competing with Erasmus’s green-clad giants with high stakes.

Home Nations' Tests

Beating an developing Fijian side posed difficulties on Saturday although the forthcoming clash against the All Blacks will be the fixture that truly shapes their autumn. New Zealand are definitely still beatable, notably absent Jordie Barrett in their center, but when it comes to taking their chances they remain a level above the majority of the northern hemisphere teams.

The Thistles were notably at fault of failing to hammer home the final nails and question marks still apply to the red rose's perfect backline combination. It is acceptable ending matches well – 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 top-drawer opposition, a close result over the French in the winter.

Next Steps

Therefore the significance of this next weekend. Interpreting the signals it would look like various alterations are anticipated in the matchday squad, with key players being reinstated to the team. Among the forwards, in the same way, regular starters should all be back from the start.

Yet perspective matters, in competition as in existence. In the lead-up to the next global tournament the {rest