“If the players give up on him, it’s over,” was the grim warning to France coach Fabien Galthie from predecessor Guy Noves after Les Bleus slogged to a fortunate draw against Italy last month. “So he would take into account protecting them.”
Noves should know. The 70-year-old was a wizard at Toulouse during the golden era of the 1990s, during which he won nine French titles and four European Cups, but his two-year spell in Galthie’s chair was catastrophic. Noves managed just 18 months before becoming France’s first head coach in history to be sacked, with a winning percentage of just 33 percent in 21 tests.
So if France’s sudden collapse has reached the stage where even Noves feels qualified to give advice – and the French public is starting to listen – then Galthie should know the pressure is on. After a heavy defeat to Ireland, an unconvincing win over Scotland and a shaky draw against Italy, Galthie faces his first match against Les Bleus, which must be won – for all the wrong reasons. A World Cup quarter-final and a Grand Slam were of course crucial matches, but losing either would not have led to calls for Galthié’s head. However, a loss to winless Wales on Sunday will suddenly have the French public clamoring for the guillotine. Even after the Azzurri loss, former Toulon owner – and former Galthie boss – Maurad Boudjellal suggested his ex-coach’s race was over.
Protecting players is, as Noves suggested, something that has not traditionally been Galthie’s strength. The 54-year-old’s reputation before his move to the role of France head coach was one of a tyrant, with the only thing fueled by his questionable man-management skills at Stade Francais, Toulon and Montpellier increasing levels of stress and were fear. between his different playing groups.
However, since Galthie took over the reins of France in 2019, that reputation had seemingly disappeared, to the extent that the lack of tyranny even started to bite him this year. derriere. The erratic, enigmatic Galthie, as the public face of one of the world’s most successful domestic rugby operations, with his villain glasses and a golden generation of players at his side, had suddenly become a staunch loyalist. Throughout the Six Nations, barring injury or unavailability, Galthie had retained the confidence of the same group of players who had served him so well since his arrival in 2019. The head coach seemed steadfastly loyal, with players lining up to defend him and his squad. methods.
This week, however, ahead of Wales’ challenge on Sunday, Galthié tested that mutual loyalty for the first time by teasing his players and keeping them on their toes – and in the dark – about the team selection. The traditional training bibs, which designate those who will start and those who will be substitutes, were mixed up during training. The team didn’t even know who was starting, so pity the French press, whose identification of starting numbers had been one of their main methods of deducing Galthie’s selection.
“It was to give life to the group,” said Laurent Sempere, one of Galthie’s two forward coaches. “As a result, we felt a real competitiveness in the group, which is not normally the case in a normal week [when the players know the starting XV].”
Galthie’s trick may have been twofold. It was not only to protect the players from themselves, but also to protect the identities of three debutants. Against Wales, Galthie rolls the dice with his biggest gamble since taking charge. Giant Toulouse second row Emmanuel Meafou will make his first appearance in France alongside his clubmate, the returning Thibaud Flament; Cameron Woki is completely cut. Nolan Le Garrec will replace Maxime Lucu at scrum-half and, in the absence of the injured Matthieu Jalibert, full-back Thomas Ramos will play fly-half and 21-year-old Léo Barre will make his first appearance at full-back. Another 21-year-old and another debutant, Nicolas Depoortere will fill the void left by the banned Jonathan Danty in the middle. Galthie is stubborn and loyal and freshens up. The totemic Gregory Alldritt returns at number 8, but what Galthie would do for the reprise of his rocket, Antoine Dupont, who tears up the sevens circuit and who has been missed more than initially expected.
At the Federation Francaise de Rugby, the party line on Galthie’s future, as things stand, is simple: nothing to see here. The governing body’s president, Florian Grill, has brought a new level of common sense and respect to the role after Bernard Laporte’s chaotic era, but Grill is tasked with cleaning up the former’s mess. Laporte assured that last year’s World Cup would generate €50 million to €70 million for the organization, but after he and tournament director Claude Atcher were removed from their positions, Grill must now beware of false profits. The FFR could lose €7 million by organizing that tournament due to financial mismanagement. It would cost the FFR a significant amount of money to fire Galthie, who signed a lucrative contract until the 2027 World Cup, as one of Laporte’s parting gifts; money that the organization simply does not possess.
Less financially damaging than Galthie could be the removal of his backroom staff. Rubbing salt in the World Cup wound, three lieutenants were lost: Laurent Labit (attack), Karim Ghezal (forward) and Thibault Giroud (strength and conditioning). The former two left for Stade Francais and it is no coincidence that the Parisians are now at the top of the Top 14. The role of Labit’s replacement as attack coach, Perpignan’s Patrick Arlettaz, is under scrutiny, as is the young coaching career. van Sempere alongside the highly respected and experienced William Servat. The prevailing sentiment in France is that when it comes to Arlettaz and Sempere, there are better ones.
For now, Galthie is safe from an FFR point of view, but back-to-back losses to both Wales and England – coming as a result of an Italian draw – would really throw the cat among the pigeons. Public pressure could be too great and, regardless of any FFR motive, Galthie could be forced to resign. The next two weeks could be as definitive as any Grand Slam tilt or World Cup shootout for Galthie’s future.