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Certain wins send double significance in the lesson they convey. Amid the barrage of weekend rugby Tests, it was Saturday night's result in Paris that will linger longest across the globe. Not just the end result, but the way the style of achievement. To say that South Africa overturned a number of widely-held beliefs would be an understatement of the calendar.

Shifting Momentum

Discard the notion, for instance, that the French team would make amends for the disappointment of their World Cup elimination. That entering the final quarter with a slight advantage and an extra man would result in certain victory. That even without their star man Antoine Dupont, they still had sufficient tranquiliser darts to keep the powerful opponents safely at bay.

Instead, it was a case of counting their poulets too early. Having been trailing by four points, the South African side with a player sent off finished by racking up 19 points without reply, strengthening their standing as a side who increasingly save their best for the toughest scenarios. If defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in the last quarter was a statement, here was conclusive proof that the leading international squad are cultivating an even thicker skin.

Forward Dominance

Actually, Erasmus's title-winning pack are beginning to make everyone else look less committed by contrast. The Scottish and English sides experienced their periods of promise over the recent fixtures but did not have the same powerful carriers that effectively reduced the French pack to landfill in the closing period. Some promising young home nation players are developing but, by the conclusion, the encounter was hommes contre garçons.

Perhaps most impressive was the inner fortitude underpinning it all. Without the second-rower – given a red card in the first half for a shoulder to the head of the French full-back – the Springboks could potentially faltered. Instead they simply regrouped and set about pulling the deflated French side to what one former French international called “extreme physical pressure.”

Leadership and Inspiration

Afterwards, having been carried around the venue on the powerful backs of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to celebrate his century of appearances, the South African skipper, Siya Kolisi, repeatedly highlighted how many of his players have been required to conquer off-field adversity and how he wished his squad would similarly continue to encourage others.

The ever-sage a commentator also made an astute point on broadcast, proposing that his results progressively make him the rugby coaching equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson. Should the Springboks do go on to win a third successive World Cup there will be absolute certainty. Even if they fall short, the intelligent way in which Erasmus has rejuvenated a potentially ageing roster has been an exemplary model to other teams.

Young Stars

Take for example his emerging number 10 the newcomer who darted through for the decisive touchdown that effectively shattered the French windows. And also another half-back, another backline player with lightning acceleration and an even sharper ability to spot openings. Naturally it is beneficial to have the support of a gargantuan pack, with the inside back riding shotgun, but the steady transformation of the Boks from scowling heavyweights into a team who can also float like butterflies and deliver telling blows is hugely impressive.

Home Side's Moments

This is not to imply that the home side were utterly overwhelmed, despite their limp finish. Damian Penaud’s additional score in the wing area was a good illustration. The forward dominance that engaged the Bok forwards, the excellent wide ball from Ramos and the winger's clinical finish into the sideline boards all demonstrated the traits of a side with significant talent, even in the absence of their star man.

Yet that turned out to be insufficient, which truly represents a sobering thought for everybody else. There is no way, for instance, that the Scottish side could have gone 17-0 down to the world champions and come galloping back in the way they did against the All Blacks. Notwithstanding the English team's last-quarter improvement, there is a gap to close before the national side can be assured of competing with the South African powerhouses with everything on the line.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Defeating an Pacific Island team was challenging on match day although the next encounter against the All Blacks will be the fixture that truly shapes their November Tests. The All Blacks are not invincible, notably absent an influential back in their midfield, but when it comes to taking their chances they continue to be a step ahead the majority of the home unions.

The Thistles were particularly guilty of failing to hammer home the killing points and question marks still hang over the English side's optimal back division. It is all very well performing in the final quarter – and infinitely better than losing them late on – but their admirable winning sequence this year has so far included just a single victory over world-class sides, a one-point home victory over Les Bleus in February.

Next Steps

Thus the importance of this coming Saturday. Reading between the lines it would appear various alterations are expected in the team selection, with key players being reinstated to the lineup. Among the forwards, in the same way, regular starters should be included from the outset.

Yet everything is relative, in competition as in life. Between now and the next global tournament the {rest