Rassie Erasmus's Mentoring Scholarship Raises Springboks to Greater Levels

Certain wins deliver dual significance in the statement they broadcast. Within the flurry of weekend international rugby fixtures, it was the Saturday evening result in Paris that will echo most profoundly across the globe. Not only the conclusion, but the way the manner of success. To say that South Africa overturned a number of comfortable theories would be an understatement of the season.

Shifting Momentum

Discard the idea, for instance, that France would rectify the injustice of their World Cup quarter-final defeat. That entering the closing stages with a narrow lead and an extra man would lead to certain victory. Even in the absence of their star man Antoine Dupont, they still had more than enough strategies to contain the big beasts at a distance.

On the contrary, it was a case of assuming victory prematurely. Initially behind on the scoreboard, the reduced Springboks finished by registering 19 consecutive points, strengthening their reputation as a squad who more and more reserve their top performance for the most challenging situations. While overpowering New Zealand in Wellington in earlier this year was a message, now came conclusive proof that the top-ranked team are developing an greater resilience.

Pack Power

If anything, Erasmus's title-winning pack are starting to make all other teams look laissez-faire by contrast. Both northern hemisphere teams both had their promising spells over the weekend but possessed nothing like the same earthmovers that systematically dismantled the French pack to landfill in the final thirty minutes. Some promising young home nation players are emerging but, by the end, Saturday night was a mismatch in experience.

What was perhaps even more striking was the inner fortitude underpinning it all. Missing the second-rower – given a 38th-minute straight red for a shoulder to the head of the opposition kicker – the South Africans could easily have become disorganized. On the contrary they just regrouped and proceeded to taking the disheartened boys in blue to what an ex-France player called “extreme physical pressure.”

Guidance and Example

Afterwards, having been borne aloft around the Stade de France on the gigantic shoulders of Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman to honor his hundredth Test, the team leader, Siya Kolisi, yet again highlighted how a significant number of his players have been needed to overcome off-field adversity and how he hoped his squad would in the same way continue to motivate others.

The insightful a commentator also made an shrewd comment on sports media, suggesting that his results increasingly make him the parallel figure of the Manchester United great. Should the Springboks manage to win a third successive World Cup there will be complete assurance. Should they fall short, the smart way in which the mentor has refreshed a experienced roster has been an object lesson to other teams.

Young Stars

Take for example his young playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who darted through for the closing score that effectively shattered the French windows. Or another half-back, another backline player with explosive speed and an keener ability to spot openings. Undoubtedly it is beneficial to play behind a dominant set of forwards, with André Esterhuizen riding shotgun, but the ongoing metamorphosis of the Springboks from intimidating giants into a squad who can also float like butterflies and deliver telling blows is hugely impressive.

Home Side's Moments

However, it should not be thought that France were utterly overwhelmed, notwithstanding their limp finish. The wing's additional score in the right corner was a clear example. The forward dominance that occupied the visiting eight, the superb distribution from the full-back and the winger's clinical finish into the sideline boards all displayed the characteristics of a team with significant talent, despite missing their captain.

However, that ultimately proved insufficient, which is a humbling reality for competing teams. It would be impossible, for instance, that Scotland could have fallen behind by 17 points to South Africa and mounted a comeback in the way they did against the All Blacks. And for all the English team's late resurgence, there remains a distance to travel before Steve Borthwick’s squad can be assured of standing up to the world's top team with everything on the line.

Home Nations' Tests

Beating an Pacific Island team proved tricky enough on the weekend although the forthcoming clash against the All Blacks will be the match that properly defines their end-of-year series. The All Blacks are definitely still beatable, especially missing an influential back in their center, but when it comes to converting pressure into points they remain a step ahead the majority of the European sides.

The Scottish team were notably at fault 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 far superior than succumbing at the death – but their commendable undefeated streak this year has so far featured only one win over elite-level teams, a close result over the French in February.

Future Prospects

Hence the significance of this next weekend. Analyzing the situation it would appear several changes are expected in the team selection, with established stars returning to the side. Among the forwards, likewise, familiar faces should all be back from the beginning.

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