6 Nations Tournament: why in two defeats against the Springboks and Ireland has Fabien Galthié's credit eroded ?

Après l'union sacrée, le temps des critiques est arrivé pour le sélectionneur des Bleus Fabien Galthié. EPA – Guillaume Horcajuelo

Pointé du doigt pour sa communication zélée et son absence de remise en question, le sélectionneur des Bleus est sous le feu des critiques avant le déplacement en Ecosse, ce samedi après-midi. 

And if, against Scotland and for the rest of his adventures, Fabien Galthié the coach also drew the pinnacle of his convictions from the player he was : inspired, instinctive, clairvoyant, surprising. So many flashes absent from the French team's game on February 2 against Ireland (17-38 defeat), which today seem dormant in the brains of the Bleus, haunted by the success of his team – and therefore his own -, to the point of having created his own "monster" demanding, cold, clinical, mathematical. Would he have neglected this part of simplicity and spontaneity that makes humanism the lever of any collective adventure ? 

"Your communication, you take it in the mouth!"

D'embodiment of "French flair" Devotee of science, figures and statistics, the big gap generates a certain uneasiness, symbolized by his analysis of the elimination of the Blues in the quarter-final of the World Cup (28-29 defeat against the Blues). South Africa). Data galore, thrown around like a screen for the harsh truth, to make the supporters of an assumed failure gogol. "Your communication, you take it in the face!", castigated the former international basketball player Laurent Sciarra, imitated for some time months by former rugby players with acerbic tongues.

Obviously, when you lose, you become self-critical.

A newspeak that leaves no illusions

It's a fact: the sacred union around the coach is over. The latter, face decomposed after the Irish slap, seems to have understood it. At the time of going to challenge Scotland at Murrayfield, the boss of Bleus is clearly under pressure. "Obviously, when you lose, you become self-critical. We have always been very demanding of ourselves. We don't do this economy. This work is collective. He is focused on only one thing: regaining the French team", he declared this Thursday.    

https://www.midilibre.fr/sports/resultats-sportifs/rugby/6-nations/resultats

However, over time, over four years of a mandate carried out at full speed, nourished by 80% of victories and ended in the daze of a frustrating World Cup, a latent feeling of denial spread slowly, favored by a discourse coated in artifice and theorized in an "imposed" Newspeak. to the media ("arrow of time" "finishers", 'expected points", "intensity fought"…), which does not& #39;could not stand the test of facts: apart from the 2022 Grand Slam, France has won nothing.

Public service cameraman banned from locker room 

As a further sign of tension, Galthié gradually cuts off the sound and image. Thus, for the first time in 30 years, the official public service cameraman is now banned from the locker room; the Blues also refused Netflix cameras for the documentary series “Six Nations: Au Contact”, favoring those of the French management. Let's call a spade a spade, and Galthié a formidable storyteller, in addition to his undeniable qualities as a technician.

Slave of a communication calibrated to the nearest comma for him and his men, the boss, anxious to control everything, has "sold" for the French a storytelling, a sort of “brave new world”, where the triumph of the Blues on the roof of the world was to be experienced as an accomplishment, a true Nirvana of French rugby. And that's where Galthié sinned, too presumptuous.

Yes, France could win the World Cup, no, it had no margin over the other favorites. The 80% of victories of the Blues could do nothing in the face of this observation: the golden generation of Dupont and co was not ready, but it was convinced of the contrary, to ;#39;where his mental collapse, this impression of starting from scratch while the Blues have a formidable backbone just waiting to grow. 

Justify and assume your part 

Saturday, I will be in front of my TV with a good whiskey, I hope we will win

Opposite, Ireland makes less fuss and, like its determined and pugnacious game, puts its virtues back on the table until victory final. "We obviously learned a lot from this defeat against the All Blacks (in the quarter-final of the World Cup), but it's not a hangover. It's just a step in our collective progress", insists coach Andy Farrell. Two opposing visions, like their respective playing identities, and here the Blues have come down three floors, ordered to diversify their game.

Also read: 6 Nations Tournament: Irish slap, headache, open criticism… The French XV up against the wall in Scotland

Also read: 6 Nations Tournament 2024: Ireland killed France and the "game", on the way to history

The qualities of the XV of France remain remarkable, it would be dishonest to scuttle the tremendous momentum that has been underway for four years. The pride, the power and the potential are there. The general public is also ready to (again) take the bait, following the example of the former president of the Federation Bernard Laporte: "It doesn't make me laugh about a French team that takes 40 points, no matter who coaches it. Saturday, I will be in front of my TV with a good whiskey, I hope we will win." Otherwise, Fabien Galthié will be asked to justify himself and assume his part. Without filter.