If the decision of a referee and a goalpost had gone the other way, France would have lost their first three matches of the 2024 Six Nations Championship.
Following a crushing defeat against Ireland in Marseille (17-38), an almost miraculous victory against Scotland (16-20), and a draw against Italy in Lille (13-13), Fabien Galthié’s team is only a shadow of its former self. They were the favourites to win the 2023 World Cup on home soil but have struggled since the traumatic quarter-final loss to the Springboks at the Stade de France (28-29).
France is now searching for a fresh start to prepare for the 2027 World Cup in Australia. This is the ultimate goal for all rugby nations, as they build their teams over four years to peak at the competition, just as France did from 2020 to 2023.
However, with a debatable line-up in this Six Nations and the presence of players whose participation in 2027 is uncertain (such as Atonio, Lucu, Fickou, Danty, etc.), it’s difficult to discern a long-term vision, especially with young players knocking on the national team’s door.
So, what is Fabien Galthié’s strategy in staying positive and constantly seeking convenient excuses? One of his post-match statements to France 2’s Hélène Macurdy caught my attention.
When asked, « Is it time to launch a new dynamic? » the French coach responded, « It’s too soon to make decisions, I think we need to be careful with everyone. We need to come together, form a society. »
It’s fascinating to note that his initial reaction to a legitimate question, which many French team supporters are asking, is to protect the players, particularly the veterans whose positions are being questioned.
This reflects Galthié’s reputation for human resource management, whether at Stade Français, Toulon, or especially at Montpellier, where he was dismissed by Mohed Altrad in 2014. His departure from Montpellier revealed a darker side of his character that the players no longer approved of.
The risk of discord between the French team and the coach arose when Galthié was appointed as the head of the team in 2020, following the departure of Raphaël Ibanez as the team manager.
Fabien Galthié seems paralyzed by the fear of losing the support of his players, even if it means keeping players fatigued from the last World Cup.
Having formed strong and undeniable bonds with players during the 2023 World Cup, Galthié now finds himself trapped in a situation where removing them from the group abruptly would portray him once again as the heartless person he was once perceived to be.
It’s not as much denial that we are witnessing as it is the genuine fear of losing the team’s support, which would be upset at not being respected after all they have been through.
Fortunately, suspensions, injuries, and poor forms may finally allow the coach to form a new team for the remaining two matches of the Six Nations Tournament, especially in the scrum-half, center, and fly-half positions, where debates are most intense.