Certain wins deliver dual importance in the message they communicate. Amid the flood of weekend rugby Tests, it was Saturday night's result in Paris that will linger most profoundly across the rugby world. Not just the conclusion, but also the manner of victory. To suggest that South Africa demolished various established assumptions would be an modest description of the calendar.
Forget about the theory, for instance, that France would make amends for the unfairness of their World Cup elimination. The belief that entering the last period with a small margin and an numerical superiority would result in certain victory. That even without their talisman their captain, they still had ample strategies to keep the big beasts under control.
On the contrary, it was a case of celebrating too soon too early. Initially 17-13 down, the reduced Springboks finished by registering 19 consecutive points, reinforcing their reputation as a team who more and more save their best for the most challenging situations. While defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in the last quarter was a message, here was conclusive proof that the top-ranked team are building an more robust mentality.
If anything, Rassie Erasmus’s title-winning pack are starting to make opposing sides look less committed by contrast. Both northern hemisphere teams both had their moments over the recent fixtures but possessed nothing like the same powerful carriers that effectively reduced France to ruins in the last half-hour. Some promising young home nation players are developing but, by the conclusion, the encounter was a mismatch in experience.
Even more notable was the psychological resilience driving it all. Without Lood de Jager – given a dismissal before halftime for a dangerous contact of the French full-back – the Boks could might well have faltered. Instead they just regrouped and began dragging the disheartened boys in blue to what a retired hooker described as “a place of suffering.”
Post-game, having been carried around the Parisian stadium on the immense frames of two key forwards to honor his hundredth Test, the South African skipper, the inspirational figure, once again emphasized how several of his team have been required to rise above life difficulties and how he aspired his squad would in the same way continue to motivate people.
The perceptive a commentator also made an perceptive observation on broadcast, proposing that his results increasingly make him the rugby coaching equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson. If South Africa manage to secure another global trophy there will be absolute certainty. Even if they come up short, the clever way in which the mentor has rejuvenated a experienced team has been an object lesson to other teams.
Take for example his emerging number 10 the newcomer who skipped over for the closing score that decisively broke the opposition line. Additionally another half-back, another half-back with explosive speed and an even sharper ability to spot openings. Undoubtedly it helps to play behind a gargantuan pack, with the powerful center adding physicality, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the South African team from scowling heavyweights into a team who can also display finesse and deliver telling blows is extraordinary.
This is not to imply that the home side were utterly overwhelmed, despite their weak ending. Damian Penaud’s additional score in the far side was a clear example. The set-piece strength that occupied the visiting eight, the glorious long pass from the full-back and the try-scorer's execution into the advertising hoardings all demonstrated the traits of a team with notable skill, despite missing Dupont.
However, that in the end was not enough, which really is a daunting prospect for everybody else. There is no way, for example, that Scotland could have trailed heavily to South Africa and come galloping back in the way they did in their fixture. And for all England’s strong finish, there still exists a distance to travel before the England team can be confident of standing up to Erasmus’s green-clad giants with all at stake.
Overcoming an improving Fiji was challenging on Saturday although the next encounter against the the Kiwis will be the fixture that accurately reflects their end-of-year series. The All Blacks are not invincible, notably absent their key midfielder in their midfield, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they are still a cut above almost all the European sides.
Scotland were particularly guilty of failing to hammer home the killing points and uncertainties still apply to the English side's ideal backline blend. It is fine ending matches well – and infinitely better than succumbing at the death – but their commendable nine-match unbeaten run this year has so far featured only one win over elite-level teams, a narrow win over France in the winter.
Hence the weight of this next weekend. Reading between the lines it would seem a number of adjustments are likely in the starting lineup, with established stars being reinstated to the lineup. Up front, likewise, regular starters should be included from the start.
Yet context is key, in competition as in existence. In the lead-up to the next global tournament the {rest
Elara is a financial strategist with over a decade of experience in wealth management and entrepreneurship.
