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Fabien Galthie faces sack before end of the Six Nations

France's coach Fabien Galthie looks on ahead of the Six Nations rugby union international match between France and Italy at Stade Pierre Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, near Lille, northern France, on February 25, 2024. (Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP) (Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images)

RTE rugby pundit Bernard Jackman has forecasted a grim future for France’s head coach – Fabien Galthie – suggesting his likely dismissal before the culmination of the Guinness Six Nations.

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This speculation follows France’s latest underwhelming performance in Lille, where they narrowly avoided defeat against Italy, managing only a 13-13 draw in Round 3 of the competition. The match saw France reduced to 14 men for the second half, allowing Italy to mount significant pressure and nearly clinch a historic victory.

Italian fly-half Paolo Garbisi’s penalty strike against the post in the dying moments of the game left the outcome hanging in a tense balance, ultimately resulting in a draw.

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France 7s captain Paulin Riva on Antoine Dupont joining the 7s squad

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    France 7s captain Paulin Riva on Antoine Dupont joining the 7s squad

    With the bar set so high for this French team, their struggle to dominate in a match where they were heavily favoured has raised more questions about their direction under the 54-year-old Galthie’s stewardship.

    Former Grenoble head coach Jackman believes that knives will be out for Galthie in France, who has been under the kosh since France’s quarter-final exit from the Rugby World Cup.

    “I’d be surprised if Fabien Galthie is there by the end of the Six Nations,” Jackman stated, reflecting the disappointment and frustration felt by many French rugby fans and commentators alike. The former Ireland hooker also projected the French press will be going in hard on the enigmatic head coach, who just 12 months ago was the toast of France.

    There’s a growing concern over France’s campaign and Galthie’s leadership in the absence of super-star scrumhalf Antoine Dupont, who is now playing on the SVNS circuit.

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    As the Six Nations heads towards its final two weekends, all eyes will be on the French camp, with pressure on the misfiring team to win their final two games against England and Wales.

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    Comments

    19 Comments
    S
    SL 514 days ago

    Jackman is a former coach of so many second rate teams, it should be taken into account whenever he tries to comment of anything to do with rugby. In other words, he is not a successful coach and his opinion should be disregarded by anyone who has the misfortune to read!

    f
    fl 515 days ago

    This would seem a bit premature. If France lose to England or Wales (which they might) then he will probably lose his job, but if they win both of those games then the conversation will change.


    France are still the 4th best team in the world, and have by far the best balanced and deep squad in the world. In part that is because of the fantastic strength in depth the Top 14 provides, but it’s also because of the incredible job Galthié has done as a selector.


    I would like to see Galthié see the job through, but leaving my sentimentality aside; if he is sacked who would do better? The best coaches in France are Lancaster and O'Gara, but would the French appoint a foreign coach? Beyond those two, Yannick Bru and Ugo Mola are probably the next cabs off the rank, but I’m not convinced either of them are international quality.

    j
    je 514 days ago

    Do they really have the best balanced and deep squad? Lets dig into that-front row, when Atonio announced his retirement Galthie had to negotiate with him to come back, Aldegheri is nowhere near as good, second rows-nobody knows what the starting second row combination would be, lucu is not at his RWC form and now the starting fly halfs are both injured, without danty in the centre the backs lack punch…


    If Galthie goes it will be largely from his own doing

    R
    Red and White Dynamight 515 days ago

    Deserved more from the officials in the RWC QterF. Etzebeth was more than “lucky, very very lucky” (Nigel Owen as an official WR ‘expert’ - as close as you’ll ever get to acknowledgment that the ref got it wrong) and the illegal chargedown from Kolbe (no TMO review, he was clearly over the line before the kicker moved). France are forever fickle and it was an extraordinarily good game but France were right to feel robbed. Imagine if the tables were turned, Bok fans would be burning effigies forever.

    K
    KI 515 days ago

    You are still crying NH teams struggles every 4 years to win the world cup no matter how strong they are before world cups.So stop crying now boks won fair and square…

    R
    Rugby 515 days ago

    France not fickle, they sort numpties like you jocks out.

    R
    Rugby 515 days ago

    Even a NZ publication says you jocks and the pacific lions were the worst, haha it not just me you douche dawbag @Red and White Dynamight


    But The Pacific Lions are worst in active poaching.


    stuff.co.nz / sport / rugby-world-cup-2023 / 300948334 / rugby-world-cup-the-team-with-the-most-players-born-overseas-revealed


    FOR 2019 RWC

    Stuff checks out where the overseas born players from the same 10 tier-one nations we looked at four years ago hail from.


    Scotland (15)

    WP Nel (South Africa), Pierre Schoeman (South Africa), Javan Sebastian (England), Ewan Ashman (Canada), Sam Skinner (England), Jack Dempsey (Australia), Hamish Watson (England), Ali Price (England), Ben White (England), Ben Healy (Ireland), Chris Harris (England), Cameron Redpath (France), Sione Tuipulotu (Australia), Kyle Steyn (South Africa), Duhan van der Merwe (South Africa).


    Italy (11)

    Ivan Nemer (Argentina), Hame Faiva (New Zealand), Dino Lamb (England), David Sisi (Germany), Toa Halafihi (New Zealand), Sebastian Negri (Zimbabwe), Martin Page-Relo (France), Juan Ignacio Brex (Argentina), Ange Capuozzo (France), Monty Ioane (Australia), Paolo Odogwu (England),


    Wales (10)

    Taulupe Faletau (Tonga), Tomas Francis (England), Dan Lydiate (England), Will Rowlands (England), Henry Thomas (England), Christ Tshiunza (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Gareth Anscombe (New Zealand), George North (England), Nick Tompkins (England), Johnny Williams (England),


    New Zealand (9)

    Samisoni Taukei'aho (Tonga), Tyrel Lomax (Australia), Nepo Laulala (Samoa), Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Tonga), Shannon Frizell (Tonga), Finlay Christie (Scotland), Emoni Narawa (Fiji), Leicester Fainga'anuku (Tonga), Ethan de Groot (Australia)


    Ireland (8)

    Finlay Bealham (Australia), Rob Herring (South Africa), Jeremy Loughman (USA), Joe McCarthy (USA), Bundee Aki (New Zealand), Jamison Gibson-Park (New Zealand), Mack Hansen (Australia), James Lowe (New Zealand)


    Australia (7)

    Taniela Tupou (Tonga), Jordan Uelese (New Zealand), Will Skelton (New Zealand), Lalakai Foketi (New Zealand), Samu Kerevi (Fiji), Marika Koroibete (Fiji), Suliasi Vunivalu (Fiji)


    France (5)

    Uini Atonio (New Zealand), Sipili Falatea (Futuna), Peato Mauvaka (New Caledonia), Paul Willemse (South Africa), Yoram Moefana (Futuna)


    England (4)

    Billy Vunipola (Australia), Manu Tuilagi (Samoa), Marcus Smith (Philippines), David Ribbans (South Africa)


    South Africa (0)


    Argentina (0)


    @carlos

    B
    Bob Marler 515 days ago

    yup. The writing’s been on the wall for some time.

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    S
    SK 40 minutes ago
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    That fighting Aussie spirit really served them well last week when they were down 24-5 early in the second, to rally back to 27-19 and dominate the last quarter was really impressive. I dont subscribe to the thought that the Lions took their foot off the gas. The Lions are not flawless. This group goes through periods in matches where they run riot and then through other periods where their game almost devolves as they try to play too much and lose all momentum falling flat. The strongest most consistent part of their game is their defence. I feel like the weakest part could be their set piece especially that creaky scrum which really should be doing better against Australia. If this Lions side was playing against the Springboks or All Blacks they would not be winning collisions and their set piece would be under serious scrutiny. Australia must try to do better in the collisions and put more pressure on the Lions set piece. They must bring line speed and power to their defence. They cannot afford to give up any soft tries and they must bring urgency at the start of the game. They need to force the Lions to play on their terms and to play from behind. If the Lions race out to an early lead all bets are off, if they keep momentum for a protracted period the game will be up. Australia must spoil, harass, frustrate and compete in every ruck, maul, scrum and lineout. Its time to face the Lions head on.

    34 Go to comments
    H
    Hellhound 1 hour ago
    Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

    As I said, always blame the ref. The Boks can't win unless the ref helped. It was a hooker and not a prop. You don't even have your facts straight. You just confirmed what I said idiot. Blame the ref for the try😂As for hate? I don't hate the AB's, just some of their fans like you. You don't look at the whole picture. All you see is AB's players. You don't look at the opposition. No, you see what you want to see and then open your mouth, spew drivel and then get heated up about it screaming hate. Yes, the Boks haven't won in NZ in awhile. Boo hoo, cry me a river. That will change. A very strong AB's side barely beat a weak C French team and you think they are in such a good place. I would not bleat such prowess if I were you. The Boks played against much weaker opposition and they were very disappointing. Lots to work on. However, we know what these Boks are capable of. We know what the youngsters are capable of. We know the depth we have and that depth is extreme. Lots of new youngsters bleeding through too. Better than most of the current AB's. Have you watched the URC? No. Japan league? No. English Premiership? No. You watch SR and you are awed by what you see. You think the world will fall at the AB's feet, that they will smash everyone in front of them(couldn't do it to a C French team). You are blind. Foolish. Big mouth and overhyping a team that is already out of time for the WC. At the most 17 Tests left to give players time to shine. Razor doesn't even have a full A team yet. Prospects yes. Possible future stars, yes. The Boks have about 3 teams, and about 3 teams with star studded youngsters that can shift up. What will the AB's do when there is injuries? Red card bans? AB's are good. They always will be. However, they are wafer thin in the talent department. As I said, I love the AB's, just not all its arrogant supporters of which you are one. You get good supporters, not you, and then bad woke idiots, that's you!

    31 Go to comments
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