Paris (AFP)

Management unprecedented in quantity and quality, promising workforce and means are still being expanded: the new coach of the XV of France Fabien Galthie gives Wednesday in Montgesty, in the Lot, the kickoff of his four-year term, which should allow the Blues to be champions of the world in 2023.

. The place: Montgesty, a symbol

Montgesty rather than Marcoussis: by choosing, for his enthronement, the town of 335 inhabitants of which he is from and whose father is mayor, the former scrum half and captain of the Blues (50 years, 64 selections) has dared a first shot com 'and sent several messages.

By reuniting his staff in the Lot, on the diagonal of the void, he first addresses a rural rugby, the one who elected at the head of the Federation (FFR) Bernard Laporte and on which the latter, who has chosen Galthie, still counts for his reelection in 2020.

Galthie then sends a message to the press: the former coach of the Top 14 clubs (Stade Français, Montpellier, Toulon) and commentator of France Televisions at the same time will definitely do nothing like everyone else.

. Assistants: Edwards is here

Galthie will begin by formalizing a framework for which there is no suspense since the Englishman Shaun Edwards, on whom hovered a little uncertainty at the World Cup, was seen Saturday in the stands at Toulouse-Clermont alongside William Servat (deputy in charge of the fronts) and Karim Ghezal (key).

Renowned for his toughness, Edwards (who will take over the defense) should bark - in English - in unison with Thibault Giroud (physical preparation), which the French have discovered this summer ahead of the World Cup. The two men meet on a very Anglo-Saxon physical requirement.

The final staff has a certain pace: Edwards has made the defense of Wales a world reference, Servat has largely contributed to the reconquest of Toulouse in 2019 and Laurent Labit (back) won him in the Top 14 and reached two finals Cup of Europe with the Racing 92. Appreciated by the players, it will be able to soften the messages of a Galthié often criticized as too dry with his troops, just like the manager Raphaël Ibanez, other former captain of the Bleus with the more transversal role.

. The players: the "next gen" at the controls

The World Cup of the French, left on a frustrating failure in the quarterfinals against Wales (20-19), ended on a positive note with the election of the opener Romain Ntamack (20 years) as revelation of the year.

A promising future that echoes that of the under-20 team, crowned two years in a row world champion - in 2018 with the Toulousain - and whose best elements (Clement Laporte, Louis Carbonel, Kilian Geraci. ..) are already knocking on the big boys' door. The skeleton of the future XV of France could partly come from Toulouse, between Ntamack, scrum half Antoine Dupont, hooker Julien Marchand or flanker François Cros.

. The means: 42 players instead of 31?

On which strength perimeter will Galthié be based? This is the answer to which the League (LNR) must respond quickly to enter the Six Nations Tournament, in January, under the best conditions. To have a larger tank and cover any injury, the former N.9 would like to be able to mobilize 42 players instead of 31 currently. This has a cost: the per diem that the NRL pays to the clubs to compensate for the absence of their internationals. But at the time of the sacred union for the World Cup 2023, organized in France, everyone is asked to make a small effort.

© 2019 AFP