Paris (AFP)

He is 4 years old to finally bring the XV of France to the top of the world: the serious things begin in January for the new coach Fabien Galthié, who will have an obligation of results from the Six Nations Tournament.

Three months to the day, this is the time that Galthié will have had to put his plan in place between the elimination of the team of which he was assistant coach in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, October 20 in Oita, and the gathering of his new group on January 20 in Nice to prepare for the Tournament. His first competition on the long road which leads to the Mondial 2023 organized in France.

The former Blues scrum half (50 years old, 64 caps) quickly set to work with Raphaël Ibanez, another famous ex-captain of the national team (46 years old, 98 caps) appointed manager in a cross-cutting role outside the field.

The duo first worked on the theory with two founding meetings of their staff at the sources, at Galthié le Lotois then Ibanez le Landais, with a keyword at the center of the debates, "identity". The same one that should serve as a lifeline for players in the event of a slump on the ground.

Once the framework was set, Galthié went to the second stage: a tour of France of the clubs to probe a panel of 90 players on their motivations. "Why do you want to play for the France team?" He asked each of them during a half-hour individual interview.

- Scratched Brunel -

The opportunity also to test the players on their subordination to a living environment - "sleep, train and live together" - stricter than in the past according to Galthié, who in the process scratched his predecessors, including Jacques Brunel. "There are bad habits that have been taken and we also find them on the field, in the results," he said in a sequence broadcast on France 2.

At the same time, the staff trained to train by directing players from Massy (Fédérale 1) to Marcoussis for a day. Mixed training - three-quarters and forwards mixed - with separate work on light weather, then collective training sprinkled with workshops: the "V1" delivered its verdict and will be followed by a "V2" before the Nice gathering. Pending the formalization of a capital request from the former Columérin to the Federation and the League: the transition from 31 to 42 players made available to prepare for the Tournament.

If the FFR and the LNR delay in finalizing the agreement, for Galthié, it is a given: he will have 42 players to train optimally from Monday to Thursday noon. In return, 14 of them not selected will be able to return to their club to play in the Top 14 on weekends.

- "We are going to win titles" -

Galthié advances full of certainties, except perhaps on the identity of his captain which he must reveal on January 8 at the same time as his list. The left pillar Jefferson Poirot, twice captain in 2019, or the third row Charles Ollivon, whose return to the best level after a serious injury forced respect? "We are looking for leaders", explained Ibanez on Sunday on the stage of Stadium 2. The lucky winner will be tested over the duration of the Tournament.

Time is running out before the reception of England, vice-world champion, on February 2 at the Stade de France. An entry shock which does not seem to scare Galthié, given his ambitions displayed: "We strongly think that we will become a major nation in world rugby again because we will win matches, titles, quickly. " French rugby has been waiting for a decade now.

© 2019 AFP