These personalities who annoyed us in 2023: Fabien Galthié, yes-yes denial

During the end-of-year holidays, the sports editorial team of Le Figaro brings you a series on the personalities who have annoyed in 2023. For various and varied reasons.

The Blues' dream came to an abrupt end. From the quarter-finals of “their” World Cup, against future champion South Africa. A frustrating defeat, lost by just one point, at the end of a locked-in encounter where Antoine Dupont and his teammates too easily gave the Boks ammunition. One of the tactics deployed by Rassie Erasmus and his staff was simple: abuse the kicking game on the French wingers. And it worked on the first two South African tests. Too reductive? In any case for Fabien Galthié, this defeat is not logical: it does not correspond to the data, the numerical data of the match.

It was necessary to wait 24 days after this elimination for the French coach to return, in front of the press, to this failure. And he asserts without batting an eye: “On a tactical and strategic level, if I had to do it again, I would do the same thing, absolutely the same.” Ah good ? And we would still lose? And continued: “According to the data, we should have scored 37 points. We only scored 28. When, based on data, you are able to score 37 points, against South Africa, it is because tactically, you were not mistaken on an offensive level.

Problem: dominating is not winning, it is not the numbers that win matches, they give a trend but not the exact reflection of a match. And the coronation of South Africa, victorious by just one point in its three matches towards the world double, shows one thing: only victory counts. Can we put a number on the mental strength of these Boks? Fly-half Handré Pollard once said: “It’s all well and good to score tries, but we only remember the team that wins.” The famous “win ugly” of the Anglo-Saxons.

Fabien Galthié's rather lunar justifications immediately sparked a reaction. Starting with a few former internationals, including Richard Dourthe who played alongside the French coach. The former three-quarter center with a still volcanic character did not mince his words on Canal: “Strategically and tactically, he was eaten by Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber because they planned everything that he 'happened. They brought in Kwagga Smith, Handré Pollard to either manage the match or slow down France if they lost. And that’s what happened, we got eaten!” And to vituperate: “I think that Fabien Galthié takes people for idiots. Everyone loves it, it's perfect, but they're avoiding all the points we really care about, which is why did we lose? Why were there so many injuries? He smokes everyone with his data and that’s not respecting people who love rugby.”

Violent criticism which led Fabien Galthié to react. But always on the same line. Not deviated one iota. “I hear this debate on data, which has become almost caricatured,” he explained to Midi Olympique. Surly, the former scrum half points out that, under his orders, the Blues won 80% of matches compared to 33% when Guy Novès was in charge. But he persists and signs off: “Working with analytics is being smart. In rugby, you have to be, individually and collectively. (…) We can’t be blamed for trying to be intelligent.” Being intelligent perhaps means being able to win the first qualifying match of “your” World Cup.