Fabien Galthié and the Crunchs, between know-how and frustration

From 2012 to 2019, led successively by Philippe Saint-André (until 2015), Guy Novès (2016-2017) and Jacques Brunel (2018-2019), the French team rarely held out against England . In ten games, the Blues have won three for seven defeats. But since Fabien Galthié and his staff are on the tricolor bench, the XV tricolor is equal game: two successes in four duels. At Twickenham, Saturday March 11 (live on France 2 and france.tv at 5.45 p.m.), he has the opportunity to show a positive balance sheet against the great rival. A look back at the four Crunchs of the Galthié era.

February 2, 2020: Galthié takes care of his entry into the Stade de France

This Sunday, February 2, Fabien Galthié begins his new adventure as coach of the XV of France. Opposite is the rival, the ancestral adversary, England, which moves to the Stade de France. A try after five minutes of play from Vincent Rattez, a 17-0 advantage at halftime, the Blues unfold. Led by their captain Charles Ollivon, author of a double, the French fly away on the recovery and have a 24-point lead. During the last twenty minutes, this young and inexperienced team suffered against the English attacks. A last opposing penalty gives the English an unexpected defensive bonus (24-17). Bonus which will have a key role, since it will allow the XV of the rose to win the tournament on the difference of points… ahead of France. The Galthié touch is already being felt.

December 6, 2020, at Twickenham: defeat tastes like victory

In autumn 2020, the November tests are put aside, due to Covid, in favor of a new competition, the Autumn Nations Cup. In the final, the Blues find the English. With a totally revamped team, the French are nevertheless dahead of the score, led by a very good Brice Dulin. Unfortunately they concede a try at the last second (19-19) and are forced to play an extension in the unprecedented format of sudden death. of a penalty, Owen Farrell is responsible for bringing down (22-19) the Habs who, however, leave Twickenham with much more certainty than their counterparts. “I’m such a bad loser that I’m not going to tell you that counts as a win“, breathed Brice Dulin. “The players who came responded present. We are here to reveal the players“, rejoiced Fabien Galthié at the end of the match.

March 13, 2021, at Twickenham: the stoppage

With two victories to start the Six Nations Tournament, including one in Ireland, the Blues arrive at Twickenham with the desire to win where they have not done since 2005 in this competition. Ambition repacked 80 minutes later, when the Habs lost three points (23-20). A try by Maro Itoje at the very end of the match crucified French hopes and punished too many faults, and a shower of penalties. Yet dominating and in control for a good part of the match, the visitors stalled in the last minutes, after having lived through three delicate weeks due to the numerous cases of Covid within the workforce. The first real quack of the Galthié era.

March 19, 2022, at the Stade de France: deliverance

When the Blues arrive at Stade France on the evening of Saturday March 19, 2022, they face their history. Never, since 2010, France has won the Six Nations Tournament, let alone achieved the Grand Slam. But this team has changed, matured, grown. Winners of Italy and Ireland in Paris, then Scotland and Wales away from home, the XV of France challenges the Perfidious Albion to finish the job, so far perfect. At the end of a match more hung than one could have imagined, the Blues win 25-13. Antoine Dupont, inducted captain after the injury of Charles Ollivon, lifts the trophy in the middle of a boiling Stade de France.

A year and a half before “their” World Cup, the Habs are on the right track. Fabien Galthié has succeeded in his first bet: winning a title with France, which has been chasing after it for twelve years.