While he had opted for a traditional five-forward bench against Japan, Fabien Galthié returned to his 6-2, assuming the “risk” of ending the match with Antoine Dupont at the opener.
This is the debate which has most often agitated the mandate of Fabien Galthié, and which has not finished causing discussion… We are obviously talking about the importance given by the coach to his “finishers”, and to the composition of their bench which has constantly evolved. Indeed, during the first 43 matches which took his team to the quarter-final against South Africa, Galthié practiced alternation to the end, concocting a classic “5” bench on 21 occasions. -3″ and opting 22 times for “6-2” formations. The reason? Sometimes very lively debates within the staff regarding the offensive options and the resulting choice of men…
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The trick? The fact is that, since the start of Galthié's second term, the debate no longer seemed to exist. As proof, in 2024, the Blues used the “6-2” option in all matches, during the Tournament then during the tour in Argentina, with the exception only for the time of the match marked “France Développement” against Uruguay. Enough to deduce that, for various reasons, all of Galthié's deputies now seemed united around the six-forward formula, Laurent Sempéré finding his account for the lineout as much as William Servat for the power, while Patrick Arlettaz had good luck game of dealing with the versatility of his men? That's what it seemed, yes. Until the first test of the November tour against Japan brought the debate back to the forefront, with a “5-3” option which had surprised many observers… Was there anything to be seen in the choice? of Galthié a simple desire to adapt to an adversary presented as alert behind, or quite simply a “political” desire to spare a place on the sheet for Matthieu Jalibertafter having made the strong choice to start Ramos at the opening? We will probably never know…
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The choice of two grunts rather than one Jalibert
The only certainty: the sluggish entry into play of the UBB playing master against the Japanese did not convince the staff to repeat the experience against the All Blacks, even though Galthié remembers that it was with a bench five-forward as his team defeated New Zealand in the opening match of the last World Cup. Because the Blues remain, given their current absences, convinced that it is first of all by imposing a big fight in front that they will be able to gain the upper hand over Ardie Savea's teammates. This is why the grunts Romain Taofifenua and Charles Ollivon, upset at having been sent home last week, were recalled alongside Mickaël Guillard to bring their 96 cumulative capes of experience to the forward pack in the money-time . And too bad if the risk consists of potentially ending the meeting with Antoine Dupont at the opening in the event of an injury to Ramos or Buros. After all, you can never ask too much of the best player in the world, if the collective game is worth it…
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