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Certain wins carry dual weight in the message they communicate. Within the barrage of weekend rugby Tests, it was the Saturday evening score in Paris that will linger longest across the rugby world. Not just the final score, but equally the style of achievement. To claim that South Africa overturned several established assumptions would be an understatement of the season.

Shifting Momentum

So much for the idea, for instance, that France would avenge the injustice of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. Assuming that going into the closing stages with a small margin and an extra man would translate into certain victory. Despite missing their talisman their captain, they still had sufficient strategies to keep the powerful opponents safely at bay.

As it turned out, it was a case of counting their poulets before time. After being trailing by four points, the South African side with a player sent off ended up scoring 19 unanswered points, reinforcing their reputation as a team who increasingly deliver their finest rugby for the most challenging scenarios. While overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in earlier this year was a declaration, this was definitive evidence that the leading international squad are developing an greater resilience.

Set-Piece Superiority

If anything, Rassie Erasmus’s title-winning pack are beginning to make opposing sides look laissez-faire by contrast. Scotland and England both had their promising spells over the two-day period but did not have the same earthmovers that systematically dismantled France to landfill in the last half-hour. A number of talented young France's pack members are emerging but, by the conclusion, the encounter was a mismatch in experience.

Perhaps most impressive was the inner fortitude driving it all. Missing their lock forward – shown a red card in the first half for a dangerous contact of Thomas Ramos – the Boks could might well have lost their composure. Instead they merely united and set about taking the demoralized boys in blue to what a retired hooker referred to as “extreme physical pressure.”

Guidance and Example

Post-game, having been hoisted around the venue on the powerful backs of two key forwards to honor his century of appearances, the team leader, the flanker, yet again stressed how a significant number of his team have been obliged to overcome off-field adversity and how he wished his side would in the same way continue to motivate people.

The insightful David Flatman also made an astute comment on sports media, proposing that the coach's achievements increasingly make him the rugby's version of the legendary football manager. In the event that the world champions succeed in secure another global trophy there will be complete assurance. Should they fail to achieve it, the smart way in which the mentor has refreshed a potentially ageing squad has been an exemplary model to everyone.

Emerging Talent

Consider his young playmaker the rising star who darted through for the closing score that properly blew open the French windows. Or the scrum-half, a second half-back with lightning acceleration and an more acute vision for space. Undoubtedly it helps to play behind a massive forward unit, with the inside back providing support, but the steady transformation of the South African team from physically imposing units into a side who can also move with agility and strike decisively is remarkable.

French Flashes

Which is not to say that France were completely dominated, in spite of their limp finish. Damian Penaud’s second try in the far side was a good illustration. The set-piece strength that engaged the visiting eight, the glorious long pass from the full-back and Penaud’s finishing dive into the sideline boards all demonstrated the hallmarks of a team with notable skill, without their captain.

But even that ultimately proved inadequate, which is a daunting prospect for everybody else. It is inconceivable, for instance, that the visitors could have trailed heavily to South Africa and mounted a comeback in the way they did versus New Zealand. Notwithstanding England’s strong finish, there still exists a journey ahead before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be confident of competing with the world's top team with high stakes.

Home Nations' Tests

Beating an improving Fiji proved tricky enough on Saturday although the upcoming showdown against the New Zealand will be the match that properly defines their November Tests. New Zealand are not invincible, particularly without their key midfielder in their backline, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they remain a level above most the home unions.

The Thistles were particularly guilty of missing the chance to secure the killing points and doubts still surround the red rose's optimal back division. It is acceptable performing in the final quarter – and much preferable than losing them late on – but their commendable nine-match unbeaten run this year has so far included just a single victory over elite-level teams, a one-point home victory over Les Bleus in February.

Future Prospects

Hence the importance of this next weekend. Interpreting the signals it would look like various alterations are expected in the starting lineup, with established stars coming back to the side. Among the forwards, in the same way, regular starters should return from the start.

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