XV of France – For Fabien Galthié, strong and profitable choices against New Zealand

The XV of France wrote a glorious new page in its history on Saturday evening. One more under the Galthié era, no offense to all his detractors. Because this victory, however small it may be, marred by a scenario flirting with the miracle as the Blues displayed two diametrically opposed faces, is also that of its coach. First, because history will remember that the former scrum half became the first French coach to defeat the All Blacks three times consecutively. A major feat. “It’s written, it’s done”he commented, not a little proud of his move. Then, because this success validates all his choices, however perilous they may be.

During this fall tour, Galthié made a change in his management. Exit the paternalistic side based on almost blind trust in its executives. So go and ask Jonathan Danty, Charles Ollivon, Gaël Fickou what they think about it. The first, comfortably seated on his sofa, watched the first two matches in front of his television. The other two were relegated to the bench or back bench for the match against Japan. Without snorting. And they returned, fully charged batteries and rage in their stomachs, to each deliver the expected performance, proving the boss of the Blues right.

Jalibert, symbol in spite of himself!

In this register, the case of Matthieu Jalibert is even more telling. Even before the start of the tour, Galthié assumed his responsibilities, taking care to notify the Bordeaux opener that he had been demoted in the ranking of the French staff. Substitute against Japan despite the absence of Romain Ntamack, the one who had a remarkable start to the season with his club UBB could not bear to be further downgraded to the point of finding himself on the list of additional players, Eden suit Park on the shoulders rather than shorts and crampons. Galthié then responded positively to the player's request, wishing to be released on Wednesday evening to join Bordeaux. “It’s his choice,” he commented, suggesting that he had not necessarily sent a good signal. And to insist: “The project is collective”as if to better emphasize that the XV of France does not bother with the moods of an element often described as a soloist. While taking the media precaution not to close the door on him: “Matthieu will continue in the French team… If he wishes of course.”

Bold Paris

Obviously, the accurate performance of Thomas Ramos, then of Antoine Dupont transferred to the opening at the end of the match, came to further comfort the boss of the Blues. Another example? Galthié also achieved this feat of beating the Blacks by playing with Gabin Villière, one of the UFOs of his first mandate, who became the replacement for the replacement (successive packages of Damian Penaud and Théo Attisogbe). Just like, to a lesser degree, he did not hesitate to bring out Léo Barré to offer Romain Buros his first cap against the Blacks. A bold but winning bet. Like the one orchestrated again with Peato Mauvaka, finishing the first two matches in the third row when, on Saturday, Galthié could have recalled soldier Alldritt.

For Galthié, this success comes at just the right time. Some began to reproach him for constantly trying to exonerate himself, for not taking his share of responsibilities, for regularly playing with failures or other controversies. Sometimes, rightly so. The year 2024 has therefore not been easy. On the contrary. Slapped by Ireland at the opening of the 6 Nations Tournament, suffering against Italy for a miraculous draw, humiliated by Argentine extra-sporting affairs, the XV of France, as it did after the first success of the Dupont generation facing New Zealand in November 2021, holds with Saturday's performance its founding act in this second mandate of Fabien Galthié, even if the latter denies it. “I find you harsh compared to our season. If we compare with England or Ireland, we are the best European nation in 2024 […] It's a solid year with sometimes unsuccessful matches. But the team pushed through despite staffing problems due to injuries, rotations and absences. It's a very rich and difficult year of transition to go through.”

In this context, the success of Saturday evening is so precious that it is difficult to measure as it appears immense. With him, the Blues have probably definitively resolved the trauma of the World Cup which ended in the quarter-finals, restored their image, which had been badly tarnished since a summer which had turned tragic despite the sevenists' gold, and laid the foundations for a legitimate ambition at the horizon 2027. And even if Galthié has repeated several times in recent weeks that “The French team is not Koh Lanta”holds his immunity totem.