Rassie Erasmus's Coaching Expertise Raises Springboks to Greater Levels

A number of triumphs deliver double significance in the statement they convey. Amid the flood of weekend Test matches, it was Saturday night's score in the French capital that will echo most profoundly across the globe. Not only the final score, but also the approach of victory. To suggest that the Springboks demolished several widely-held theories would be an understatement of the rugby year.

Shifting Momentum

Discard the idea, for example, that the French team would rectify the unfairness of their World Cup elimination. That entering the closing stages with a narrow lead and an additional player would translate into inevitable glory. Despite missing their talisman their captain, they still had more than enough tranquiliser darts to keep the strong rivals at a distance.

Instead, it was a case of counting their poulets too early. Having been trailing by four points, the reduced Springboks finished by racking up 19 points without reply, confirming their status as a team who increasingly save their best for the toughest scenarios. If defeating the All Blacks by a large margin in September was a statement, this was clear demonstration that the leading international squad are building an even thicker skin.

Pack Power

If anything, Erasmus's experienced front eight are starting to make all other teams look less committed by contrast. The Scottish and English sides each enjoyed their promising spells over the two-day period but possessed nothing like the same powerful carriers that systematically dismantled the home side to ruins in the last half-hour. A number of talented young France's pack members are emerging but, by the final whistle, the match was a mismatch in experience.

Even more notable was the inner fortitude underpinning it all. In the absence of Lood de Jager – issued a 38th-minute straight red for a dangerous contact of Thomas Ramos – the South Africans could potentially lost their composure. On the contrary they simply regrouped and began taking the demoralized home team to what a retired hooker called “the hurt locker.”

Guidance and Example

Afterwards, having been borne aloft around the Stade de France on the powerful backs of the lock pairing to mark his century of appearances, the Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi, repeatedly highlighted how a significant number of his players have been required to overcome life difficulties and how he wished his side would likewise continue to encourage people.

The insightful a commentator also made an shrewd point on sports media, suggesting that his results progressively make him the rugby coaching equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson. Should the Springboks succeed in win a third successive World Cup there will be absolute certainty. Even if they come up short, the intelligent way in which the mentor has refreshed a experienced squad has been an exemplary model to everyone.

Emerging Talent

Consider his emerging number 10 the rising star who sprinted past for the closing score that decisively broke the French windows. Additionally the scrum-half, another half-back with lightning acceleration and an even sharper vision for space. Undoubtedly it is beneficial to operate behind a massive forward unit, with the powerful center providing support, but the steady transformation of the South African team from intimidating giants into a squad who can also move with agility and deliver telling blows is extraordinary.

French Flashes

Which is not to say that the home side were totally outclassed, despite their weak ending. Damian Penaud’s second try in the far side was a clear example. The power up front that engaged the Bok forwards, the excellent wide ball from the full-back and the winger's clinical finish into the perimeter signage all exhibited the hallmarks of a squad with significant talent, without Dupont.

Yet that ultimately proved insufficient, which really is a humbling reality for competing teams. There is no way, for example, that the Scottish side could have gone 17-0 down to South Africa and fought back in the way they did in their fixture. And for all the English team's late resurgence, there still exists a gap to close before the national side can be certain of standing up to Erasmus’s green-clad giants with high stakes.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Overcoming an Pacific Island team was challenging on Saturday although the next encounter against the New Zealand will be the fixture that accurately reflects their November Tests. The All Blacks are definitely still beatable, especially missing Jordie Barrett in their midfield, but when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities they remain a cut above almost all the northern hemisphere teams.

The Scottish team were particularly guilty of failing to hammer home the final nails and uncertainties still hang over the English side's perfect backline combination. It is acceptable performing in the final quarter – and much preferable than losing them late on – but their commendable undefeated streak this year has so far included just a single victory over top-drawer opposition, a close result over the French in February.

Looking Ahead

Therefore the importance of this next weekend. Reading between the lines it would seem several changes are expected in the team selection, with experienced individuals being reinstated to the side. Among the forwards, similarly, first-choice players should all be back from the beginning.

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