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A number of triumphs carry double importance in the message they convey. Among the flood of weekend rugby Tests, it was Saturday night's score in the French capital that will echo longest across the globe. Not just the end result, but also the style of success. To say that South Africa overturned a number of comfortable beliefs would be an understatement of the calendar.

Surprising Comeback

So much for the idea, for instance, that the French team would rectify the injustice of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. Assuming that going into the final quarter with a small margin and an numerical superiority would lead to assumed success. Despite missing their key player their scrum-half, they still had ample resources to keep the powerful opponents at a distance.

As it turned out, it was a case of counting their poulets prematurely. Initially behind on the scoreboard, the South African side with a player sent off finished by scoring 19 unanswered points, confirming their reputation as a squad who more and more deliver their finest rugby for the most demanding situations. Whereas overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in September was a message, here was definitive evidence that the leading international squad are building an more robust mentality.

Pack Power

If anything, Rassie Erasmus’s champion Bok forwards are increasingly make opposing sides look laissez-faire by contrast. Both northern hemisphere teams experienced their periods of promise over the recent fixtures but lacked entirely the same dominant forwards that effectively reduced the home side to rubble in the final thirty minutes. A number of talented young France's pack members are developing but, by the conclusion, Saturday night was men against boys.

Perhaps most impressive was the mental strength supporting it all. In the absence of the second-rower – given a 38th-minute straight red for a dangerous contact of the opposition kicker – the Springboks could easily have faltered. Instead they simply regrouped and set about pulling the deflated boys in blue to what one former French international called “a place of suffering.”

Captaincy and Motivation

Afterwards, having been borne aloft around the venue on the immense frames of the lock pairing to mark his 100th cap, the South African skipper, the flanker, once again emphasized how a significant number of his squad have been obliged to overcome off-field adversity and how he wished his squad would likewise continue to motivate fans.

The insightful an analyst also made an perceptive comment on sports media, stating that his results progressively make him the parallel figure of the Manchester United great. Should the Springboks succeed in secure another global trophy there will be no doubt whatsoever. Even if they fail to achieve it, the smart way in which the coach has refreshed a possibly veteran squad has been an object lesson to everyone.

Young Stars

Take for example his 23-year-old fly-half the rising star who sprinted past for the closing score that decisively broke the home defense. And also another half-back, another playmaker with lightning acceleration and an keener vision for space. Of course it is beneficial to play behind a gargantuan pack, with the powerful center adding physicality, but the steady transformation of the Springboks from scowling heavyweights into a squad who can also float like butterflies and deliver telling blows is hugely impressive.

French Flashes

However, it should not be thought that France were totally outclassed, despite their weak ending. Their winger's second try in the right corner was a clear example. The power up front that occupied the visiting eight, the excellent wide ball from Ramos and Penaud’s finishing dive into the perimeter signage all demonstrated the characteristics of a squad with considerable ability, even in the absence of Dupont.

But even that ultimately proved not enough, which really is a daunting prospect for everybody else. It is inconceivable, for example, that the Scottish side could have gone 17-0 down to the world champions and mounted a comeback in the way they did versus New Zealand. And for all the red rose's late resurgence, there is a journey ahead before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be assured of competing with the world's top team with high stakes.

Home Nations' Tests

Defeating an Pacific Island team proved tricky enough on Saturday although the next encounter against the New Zealand will be the match that properly defines their end-of-year series. The visitors are certainly vulnerable, particularly without an influential back in their backline, but when it comes to taking their chances they remain a cut above almost all the European sides.

The Scottish team were particularly guilty of missing the chance to secure the final nails and uncertainties still apply to England’s perfect backline combination. It is fine finishing games strongly – and infinitely better than fading in the closing stages – but their commendable winning sequence this year has so far included just a single victory over world-class sides, a narrow win over the French in the winter.

Next Steps

Hence the significance of this next weekend. Interpreting the signals it would look like several changes are likely in the matchday squad, with established stars being reinstated to the side. Among the forwards, likewise, first-choice players should all be back from the beginning.

Yet everything is relative, in sport as in existence. From now until the upcoming world championship the {rest