“If I had to do it again, I would follow the same strategy”, assumes Fabien Galthié in his first speech after the World Cup

His reaction was long overdue. Fabien Galthié made his return in front of the camera during a press conference, Wednesday November 8, almost a month after the failure of the Blues in their quarter-final of the World Cup, lost by a small point against South Africa at home. The coach of the XV of France arrived prepared, serene, to return to this immense “disappointment” which, according to him, required a period of “grief”. The one who has changed the face of the Blues since his arrival in April 2019 has also planned on preparing for the next World Cup.

You have not spoken since the elimination, for twenty-four days. Has the time for analysis passed?

Fabien Galthié: When you get eliminated in the quarterfinals, you let the teams still in the running play their semi-final and the final. The coaches who spoke the most were the winners, then that of New Zealand and Eddie Jones, who withdrew. Then, we had to let the Top 14 resume. I believe that we must first allow time for competition, then, for us, there is time for mourning. For us, it was a huge disappointment after four years of hard work, successful work whether we like it or not, with 80% victories and with all the records that you know.

During the four months of preparation, the only objective was to be world champions. There was no other and the disappointment would have been the same if we had lost by one point in the semi-final or the final. Informally, we spoke with members of the staff and players to get news and find out how everyone was experiencing this moment.

“The word that comes back is “accept”. Accept defeat and not having achieved the supreme objective. Then, we will have to overcome this state.”

Fabien Galthié, coach of the XV of France

at a press conference

You counted twenty-four days [de silence], this is little. I had planned to speak to you later, rather at the end of November, but faced with insistence, I decided to accelerate to share this sorrow and this pain. When I came out of the bubble [Coupe du monde], I realized how much the French loved us. I speak in the imperfect tense but I could say it in the present tense. I only receive messages of sharing, support and passion. The adventure began four years ago, but we quickly felt this wind. We wanted to bring together, unite and share. We got there. It was almost unexpected, all this passion around our team.

Concerning the quarter-final, did you tell yourself that you were wrong in terms of strategy?

Absolutely not (…). If I had to do it again I would follow exactly the same strategy (…). I took the time to look back on the match. I worked with a lot of analysts, images and data. A point is nothing, and everything at the same time. From there, we can question everything but we have entered the conclusion zone 11 times [face à l’Afrique du Sud], it was 50% more than our goal. On the facts of the match, things were not good. Perhaps we should have entered this area 12, 13 or 14 times… I have isolated the seven final phase matches and the two biggest group matches [France-Nouvelle-Zélande et Irlande-Afrique du Sud] and we are the only team to have had so many highlights in these key matches.

Against South Africa, our potential score was 37 points, and we only scored 28. Tactically, against such an opponent, you didn’t make a mistake offensively. Defensively, South Africa managed to set up a ruck for the first time in our camp in the 55th minute. The South Africans were super efficient. Out of a potential score of 25, they scored 29 points and they reproduced that in the final.

When were you able to watch the match again and how many times did you watch it?

I watched the match again for the first time on a train between Gare d’Austerlitz and Cahors. I had already received a lot of data and analysis. With Jérôme Garcès, we worked to write, as we always do, to World Rugby by selecting interesting video clips from the match to ask what was tolerated or what should be whistled according to three principles: safety, speed and space [sécurité, vitesse et espace en français]. We sent nine to Joël Jutge [chef des arbitres durant le Mondial]Ben O’Keeffe [arbitre de France-Afrique du Sud] and its teams. It was about five days after the game. It was purely professional and not necessarily very pleasant. Since then, I have rewatched the match about ten times. I have eight cameras and I have crossed a lot of data to study everything and respond correctly to you and the players.

How to regain control and relaunch this team after such a disappointment?

The injury, the pain, it’s normal. There is only one team that is not in pain and that is the world champion. When you play for the French team and in the World Cup, you have to be ready to win but also to experience what you have experienced.

“Having spoken about it with the leaders, all of whom I have since spoken on the phone, I think that the injury will leave a scar that we will have for life but that is part of the journey. The high level is a lot of joy, positive emotions but also very painful.”

Fabien Galthié, coach of the XV of France

at a press conference

Having experienced many disappointments, it is never a handicap. Over time, it slowly but surely becomes experience, knowledge and if we are able to ask the right questions, the possibility of being even better.

Can the team progress towards the next World Cup in four years or have they reached their full potential?

When we put together the team after the 2019 World Cup in Japan, its average age was 24. Average which increased to 27 in this World Cup. Some will leave the group but we can increase the collective experience and maturity by around three years and 20 caps per player. From there, this team will surely be stronger and more experienced than the one that lost by one point against South Africa.

Some clubs have already sounded the alarm, because of the overlapping calendars and the provision of their best players for the national team. Do you think you can work in the same conditions for the next World Cup?

For four years, the French team was a success. During the first Six Nations tournament in 2020, only 50,000 places were sold against Ireland and 15,000 against Italy. From the summer preparation matches, in August, we were sold out at Saint-Etienne, Nantes and the Stade de France.

“When the French team is doing well, the stadiums are full at all levels. It’s an additional resource for all French rugby clubs.”

Fabien Galthié, coach of the XV of France

at a press conference

The XV of France is a center of revenue and no costs for French clubs. One euro invested in selection is times 20 for the FFR. We all walk together and I want to believe that we will continue to walk together. I hope everyone has understood the value of being associated together in good times but also in bad times. It’s called solidarity.