REPORTAGE
The 2023 mission of Fabien Galthié starts this week. Wednesday, the new coach of the XV of France presented the main axes of his project for the Blues, four years of the World Cup. For this, he chose Montgesty, a small village in the Lot, 330 inhabitants, where Fabien Galthie is the local hero. The former scrum-half spent much of his childhood in this town, long run by his father.
8 men in the staff
More than a chef, it's a duo that now runs this XV of France. The coach Fabien Galthié will be supported in his task by a general manager, his former teammate in France, Raphaël Ibanez. "We scraped together, we continued to follow each other in other lives keeping in mind this idea," says Fabien Galthié. "It was obvious, I'm lucky to have him by my side". Galthie will be responsible for the field, when Ibanez will be in charge of everything that goes on outside, including "relations with the clubs and the League".
The two former leaders of the Blues are the leaders of a staff of 8 people. Already present at the World Cup in Japan, Laurent Labit (attack) and Thibault Giroud (director of athletic performance) continue the adventure. They are joined by William Servat and Karim Ghezal (co-coaches of the conquest and specific tasks), as well as by Nicolas Buffa (director of the analysis cell). But the most anticipated recruitment is that of the Englishman Shaun Edwards (defense), noticed for his work especially with Wales. "This is the method of the staff rather than the Galthie method," said the new coach who intends to "combine and merge" the skills of all these personalities.
A group of 75 players
Fabien Galthié also explained that he wants to follow 75 players throughout the season. An expanded list in which he hopes to draw 42 players per rally. An application submitted to the approval of the National Rugby League, meeting Tuesday in the steering committee. "The project, which can only be done with the clubs and the league, is to try to have 42 players until Thursday and release the unsuccessful players on the score sheet," said Galthie . "In general, after a day of championship or European Cup, 30% of players are injured or unable to practice a high intensity rugby, 100%," said the technician, who would be well reassured in these conditions. "It means we can work with 30 players (really available), otherwise we do not train anymore, we train."
The era Fabien Galthié will officially begin January 19, 2020 in Marcoussis where the Blues are expected to prepare for the Crunch against the vice-champion of the English world, opening the Six Nations Tournament. First step towards building a group for the 2023 World Cup in France. But the world title is not yet the goal posted by the new staff who prefers to speak of "world top three". And for that, it will be necessary "to regain matches and titles".