France expects, but can Galthié’s golden generation deliver?

GOLDEN GENERATION: Can Fabien Galthié's golden generation deliver a Six Nations title. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

A November hat-trick of wins gave Fabien Galthie a little breathing space, but there’s little doubt that he’s carrying plenty on his shoulders heading into this Six Nations.

Expectations and demands are high. ‘Golden Age’ may be metaphorical hyperbole, but there’s an undeniable glister to French rugby right now, which makes the lack of recent silverware – a 2022 Grand Slam apart – more frustrating.

France expects, then. But the fixture list is tough, Les Bleus have struggled at the set piece recently – though there were clear signs of improvement in the Autumn Nations’ Series, a number of players are absent, and others have returned.

Here are the problems Galthie and France face, and the opportunities they have healing into the 2025 championship.

The pressure

A fortunate second-place finish for France failed to conceal the problems of a limp 2024 Six Nations as they struggled through a monumental World Cup hangover.

Given where Les Bleus were when Galthie took charge of Les Bleus six Six Nations ago, he has enjoyed an extended period of goodwill. But last year’s Six Nations – after October’s disappointment - eroded what was left of rugby fans’ patience.

Galthie has generational talent at his disposal in several positions, a squad made up mostly of players from two of the three best-performing club sides in Europe and a very generous continuing player release agreement. Better than second has to be the target, and Galthie knows it, even as he skirts round questions about it.

Return of Ntamack

When France v Wales kicks off Friday night, it will have been 19 days, five months, and one year since we last saw Romain Ntamack in a France shirt, quietly, competently and effectively game-managing in the background while Antoine Dupont dazzles defenders, crowds and commentators.

What Ntamack does so understatedly brilliantly, for club and country, is give Dupont licence to go do that rugby voodoo that he does so well. And, when mesmerised defences do drift the latter’s way, they miss the fact that the former is always perfectly placed to leave them grasping at air with a floated pass, well-judged kick or burst of perfectly coiffed pace.

Frankly, any debate over the best current France halfback partnership is a long-dead cat. It’s Dupontamack.

The fixture list

Speaking of La Pression… Expectations may be high, but the fact 2025 isn’t a favourable year for Fabien Galthie’s France Six Nations-wise cannot be ignored. Historically, Les Bleus have not done particularly well in years ending in an odd number, mainly because the fixture list is against them.

Their two home matches against Wales and Scotland this year bookend three away days in a row, in London, then Rome, and then a round four trip to Dublin, to face an Irish side that will be geared up and battle-hardened, and perhaps with a Triple Crown already in their pockets after opening their campaign at home against England, before trips to Scotland and Wales.

With that schedule, a much-needed, much-demanded second Six Nations title would be very hard-won, indeed. Not, it has to be said, impossible, though.

The front row

You may think there’s something in the conspiracy theory that Leinster’s 35-year-old Rabah Slimani was called up to the France squad for the first time since 2019 to slip William Servat and Laurent Sempere inside information on Leinster’s lineout and scrum tactics. We couldn’t possibly comment.

Less interesting, but more accurate: France’s front row stocks are low. Such was the uncertainty as staff fretted over injuries to Reda Wardi, Tevita Tatafu and Sipili Falatea, and concerns over the fitness of Uini Atonio, Cyril Baille and Jean-Baptiste Gros, that Slimani was one of eight props in Les Bleus’ initial 42. It seems, however, Atonio will get by, Gros and Baille are good to go, and Tatafu could be back for England.

Slimani’s Leinster insights? A bonus.

Central questions

The 2025 Six Nations may see a changing of the guard in the French midfield. With Gael Fickou and Jonathan Danty injured, Galthie has called up a group of centres long on talent yet short of international experience.

The 31-time international Yoram Moefana has nearly three times as many caps as the four other centres in the extended squad combined – Pierre-Louis Barassi (three), Emilien Gailleton (six), Nicolas Depoortere (two) and this year’s ProD2 call-up Noah Nene (zero).

Watch for the in-form Barassi, set to start at 13 against Wales. He won the last of his three French caps in July 2021, but – having finally cracked the Toulouse code, after joining from Lyon in July 2022 – is playing so well that they miss neither Pita Ahki or Santiago Chocobares.