By common consensus, Fabien Galthie should have been disappointed by France’s opening World Cup warm-up series defeat. He wasn’t – and that speaks volumes
FRANCE coach Fabien Galthie appeared astonishingly phlegmatic after France’s slip-from-in-front loss to Scotland on Saturday.
Given the game that had just played out in front of him, his coaching team, and a full house at what is now officially called Scottish Gas Murrayfield, journalists would have forgiven him for being far less sanguine in its immediate aftermath. They may even have expected flashes of disappointed and angry.
It wasn’t what they got.
He had just seen – we had all just seen – France give Scotland the runaround in the first half, transitioning from rock-solid defence into devastating attack in an ever-flowing instant.
We watched as both 20-year-old debutants were permitted the courage of their talents to set up a breakout try – the match’s stunning opener – from their own half, playing what was in front of them rather than the percentages or, necessarily, the gameplan. We witnessed another young first-time starter make an international backrow role look second nature.
We saw Scotland – ranked number five in the world at kick-off – restricted to a single Finn Russell penalty in 40 minutes, while being ripped asunder. France scored three times in a remarkable first half, and looked ready to add a hatful more in the second period.
And then… Scotland happened. Despite – maybe even because of – Xander Ferguson’s red card – the first northern hemisphere outing for the referee referral and the ‘bunker’ – Scotland very much happened.
They did to France what France had done to them in the first 40. They scored 22 unanswered points – and, had rugby been a game of three periods, looked ready to add a hatful more in the last one despite their numerical disadvantage.
It was a remarkable turnaround. And it means Gregor Townsend’s side now stand alone as the only one to have three wins against Galthie’s France.
In 37 matches since the Galthiecene era began, only two sides – Ireland in 2023 and Scotland in 2020 – have beaten France by more than a single score.
With the clock in the red, France were 5m from turning what was a remarkable defeat into what would have a remarkable victory when they conceded a penalty for holding on – the Scottish defence had been as ferocious and indomitable in the entire second 40 as it had been lazy and overpowered in the first.
Scotland were top value for their victory. Their second-half performance, their mountainous self-belief, their bravery and determination deserved nothing less. This comeback performance will be worth its weight in something heavier than gold in the serious matches of the World Cup next month.
But back to Galthie’s near-gnomic post-match calm. His France side for Scotland, the first of Les Bleus’ four warm-up matches, was picked specifically to answer a number of selection questions. It wasn’t an instantly recognisable France side, but despite common social media consensus branding it a ‘B’ or even a ‘C’ side, it won’t have been seen that way internally.
The defeat was a disappointment, of that there’s no doubt. The manner of the defeat was a disappointment. But there was, and is, a bigger picture. This squad, this match, was just part of it. For Galthie it extends even beyond the World Cup.
Galthie’s immediate World Cup-related questions were – mostly – answered. And a couple more were raised that he welcomed.
“We didn’t manage to control the start of the second half, contrary to the plan we had set in the dressing room,” Galthie told journalists. “We took the players out on to the pitch early to get them up and ready for the restart.
“We had a target of staying in their half for the first five minutes, but it didn’t go to plan. The first casualty for us was our plan at the start of the second half.”
That was the limit of anything approaching negativity. “We wanted to experience this, a match where we faced difficulties and scenarios to manage. Everything we have experienced, we have to take and keep,” the coach said.
“It’s about collective development. We played a very good first half. In the second half, we didn’t score and went down.
Pierre Bourgarit, Paul Boudehent, Cameron Woki, Yoan Tanga, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Emilien Gailleton, Yoram Moefana, and probably Arthur Vincent all confirmed final 33 contender status.
It’s a problem Galthie is happy enough to have this close to the squad announcement date, on August 21. No selection headaches here, he insisted.
“We are very happy to see the players perform. This is one of our missions as staff. It is good for the players individually and for this team collectively. We have seen players who can perform at this level.
“The players are growing, the team too, and that’s why I don’t have a headache. I would if it was the other way around and players weren’t living up to expectations.”
Conventional pundit wisdom has it that Demba Bamba and Ethan Dumortier have more work to do after ineffective performances against Scotland. But their World Cup hopes were not dashed in Scotland. Far from it.
“Playing for the France team, it must first be a great joy,” Galthie said. “What is satisfying is that we felt the players were totally liberated, in the action and played with pleasure and ambition.
“The players gained a lot of individual experience today and that will take the group forward.”
France play Scotland again on Saturday, this time in Saint-Etienne. The squad will be different – Galthie advised gathered journalists to keep paying attention to the bibs worn in the training sessions at Capbreton for hints as to the make-up of the 23 next Saturday.
But, as he said: “We’re in the build-up period for the World Cup … There’s not much room or time for disappointment.”
The not-very coded message there? You may think that loss creates problems for France. Fabien Galthie couldn’t possibly comment. But that gnomic little smile of his speaks volumes.
James Harrington: Rugby writer and freelance sports journalist 
James Harrington: Rugby writer and freelance sports journalist
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