Rassie Erasmus's Mentoring Scholarship Raises Springboks to New Heights

Certain wins send twofold importance in the lesson they communicate. Among the flood of weekend rugby Tests, it was Saturday night's score in Paris that will echo most enduringly across the globe. Not just the conclusion, but equally the style of success. To suggest that the Springboks overturned various widely-held theories would be an modest description of the calendar.

Shifting Momentum

Forget about the idea, for instance, that France would rectify the injustice of their World Cup last-eight loss. Assuming that going into the last period with a slight advantage and an numerical superiority would lead to certain victory. Despite missing their star man Antoine Dupont, they still had more than enough strategies to restrain the big beasts at a distance.

Instead, it was a case of counting their poulets too early. Having been 17-13 down, the 14-man Boks ended up registering 19 consecutive points, strengthening their status as a squad who increasingly reserve their top performance for the toughest circumstances. While beating New Zealand 43-10 in the last quarter was a declaration, here was clear demonstration that the top-ranked team are cultivating an greater resilience.

Pack Power

If anything, Erasmus's experienced front eight are beginning to make everyone else look less committed by juxtaposition. Scotland and England experienced their promising spells over the recent fixtures but lacked entirely the same dominant forwards that effectively reduced the home side to landfill in the closing period. Several up-and-coming young France's pack members are developing but, by the end, the match was men against boys.

Even more notable was the mental strength underpinning it all. In the absence of the second-rower – shown a dismissal before halftime for a high tackle of Thomas Ramos – the Boks could might well have faltered. On the contrary they merely regrouped and proceeded to taking the deflated home team to what one former French international called “extreme physical pressure.”

Leadership and Inspiration

Afterwards, having been borne aloft around the Parisian stadium on the gigantic shoulders of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to honor his hundredth Test, the team leader, the flanker, repeatedly highlighted how a significant number of his squad have been required to rise above personal challenges and how he aspired his team would likewise continue to motivate people.

The ever-sage David Flatman also made an astute point on broadcast, 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 manage to claim a third straight world title there will be no doubt whatsoever. In case they fail to achieve it, the clever way in which the coach has revitalized a experienced squad has been an exemplary model to all.

Emerging Talent

Look no further than his 23-year-old fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who darted through for the closing score that properly blew open the home defense. And also Grant Williams, a second half-back with lightning acceleration and an even sharper vision for space. Of course it is beneficial to operate behind a massive forward unit, with the inside back riding shotgun, but the continuing evolution of the Boks from scowling heavyweights into a squad who can also display finesse and strike decisively is hugely impressive.

Glimpses of French Quality

However, it should not be thought that the home side were completely dominated, notwithstanding their fading performance. The wing's additional score in the wing area was a clear example. The power up front that occupied the South African pack, the superb distribution from the playmaker and the winger's clinical finish into the advertising hoardings all exhibited the hallmarks of a team with significant talent, despite missing Dupont.

But even that in the end was insufficient, which really is a sobering thought for all other nations. It is inconceivable, for instance, that the visitors could have fallen behind by 17 points to the world champions and mounted a comeback in the way they did against the All Blacks. Notwithstanding England’s strong finish, there is a journey ahead before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be certain of competing with the world's top team with all at stake.

Northern Hemisphere Challenges

Beating an Pacific Island team posed difficulties on the weekend although the upcoming showdown against the the Kiwis will be the fixture that truly shapes their November Tests. The visitors are definitely still beatable, notably absent an influential back in their center, but when it comes to taking their chances they continue to be a step ahead almost all the European sides.

The Scottish team were notably at fault of not finishing off the final nails and question marks still surround England’s ideal backline blend. It is all very well finishing games strongly – and far superior than fading in the closing stages – but their commendable undefeated streak this year has so far included just a single victory over world-class sides, a narrow win over Les Bleus in February.

Future Prospects

Hence the significance of this next weekend. Reading between the lines it would look like various alterations are anticipated in the team selection, with experienced individuals returning to the lineup. Up front, in the same way, familiar faces should be included from the start.

Yet context is key, in competition as in reality. From now until the upcoming world championship the {rest