Victory in Paris with 14 men showed what the world champions can still do, leaving New Zealand and others playing catchup
S
ome wins count double in terms of the message they send. And amid the blizzard of weekend Test matches it was Saturday night’s result in Paris that will resonate the longest in both hemispheres. Not only the outcome, either, but the manner of it. To say South Africa exploded a few cosy theories would be the understatement of the rugby year.
So much for the idea, for example, that France would avenge the injustice of their World Cup quarter-final defeat to the Springboks. That entering the final quarter with a narrow lead and an extra man would translate into inevitable glory. That even without their talisman Antoine Dupont they still had more than enough tranquiliser darts to keep the big beasts safely at bay.
Instead it was a case of counting their poulets prematurely. Having been 17-13 down, the 14-man Boks ended up scoring 19 unanswered points, reinforcing their status as a side who increasingly save their best for the most challenging scenarios. If beating New Zealand 43-10 in Wellington in September was a statement, here was conclusive proof the world’s No 1 side are developing an even thicker skin.
