At the end of a contrasting year 2024 for the Blues but concluded by a brilliant autumn tour, coach Fabien Galthié liked to hammer home this: “the team is still at 80% victories (since taking office ).”
Very high standards, which have in fact not reduced the statistics of the French XV under his leadership, often winning since 2020.
But another figure from this year 2024 shows how well the French XV and French rugby more broadly are doing. This is the number of players used by the French staff.
In 2024, 75 players have had at least one match sheet in the Rooster jersey. Including 22 their first selection.
XV OF FRANCE. Fickou, fracture and frustration: the Blues begin the Tournament diminished
A record explained by the reconstruction necessary at the end of the 2023 World Cup, but also the absence of all the “premiums” during the tour in South America or the injuries or poor performance of several executives.
For comparison, during the 2020/2021 season, although marked by roughly similar circumstances and until now holder of the record, Fabien Galthié had used “only” 63 players. When the South African world champions only used 52 players in 2024.
Golden foot, silver hands, canes of fire: The best ProD2 player for better days at LOU in 2025?But the French XV needs to broaden its vision for the 2027 World Cup, insists the staff. Which should give other novices a chance in 2025, including Gaël Dréan, whose name is coming up a lot at the moment, and Gabin Lorre. While Romain Ntamack, for example, who has not appeared since the summer of 2023, will have to get back on track.
