France get their act together at last after years of stagnation

Les Bleus’ crop of junior world champions are bringing a new sense of hope, writes Ben Coles

France have only one player over the age of 30 in their squad for this year’s Six Nations, with that dubious honour going to Bernard Le Roux. Playing for the national side is now a young man’s game. Fabien Galthie, the new head coach, called up 19 uncapped players when he named his first squad earlier this month. Another four have since been added due to injuries. There are post-world Cup overhauls, and then there is the decision to take a wrecking ball to a crumbling structure.

Optimism heading into France’s opener against England on Sunday is encouragingly high, at least when compared to discussing Les Bleus over the past few years. A high-quality, balanced coaching team have been assembled, headed by Galthie and manager Raphael Ibanez, with eye-catching assistant coaches in Shaun Edwards (defence), William Servat (forwards) and Laurent Labit (backs).

Yet the main source of excitement has been France’s success at under-20 level, winning the past two World Championships by defeating England and Australia. Seven players from those squads – Demba Bamba, Louis Carbonel, Killian Geraci, Jean-baptiste Gros, Romain Ntamack, Arthur Vincent and Cameron Woki – have been called up for the Six Nations.

The titles were France’s first at junior level since 2006, when a side containing a host of future internationals – including Maxime Medard, Lionel Beauxis, Damien Chouly, Fulgence Ouedraogo and Thomas Domingo – defeated South Africa 24-13.

The depth of talent has never been in question. But a 12-year gap between age-group triumphs highlights serious structural faults that the French rugby federation is only beginning to fix. The drought has been painful to watch, admits Benjamin Kayser, the former France hooker who retired last season. Kayser credits Sebastien Piqueronies, the France Under-20 team manager, for having a seismic impact on the youth team’s resurgence.

“He has properly managed them and created a second junior side,” Kayser says. “There is no equivalent of the England Saxons. Now you have France Under-20 and then an Under-20 development side, which is the old Under-19s. They are creating a proper pathway, with the Under20s the pinnacle. Jordan Joseph, the Racing 92 back row, is set to play in his third Under-20 Six Nations. All the best players are going through that process.”

Two other factors have been crucial. Harsher punishments for teams that fail to include at least 14

“Jiff ” players – those who have spent a minimum of three seasons in a French club’s academy prior to turning 21 – in each match squad ensure more playing time in the Top 14. The other has been appointing quality coaches to the junior set-up, as opposed to candidates with limited experience. David Darricarrere, who previously worked at Castres and Biarritz, oversaw both Under-20 titles. “He had worked in the Top 14 for years, was given time and made them brilliant,” Kayser says.

For now, at least, there is a sense that France are getting their act together. National pride will be at stake in 2023 when the World Cup returns to French soil, with the Olympics following not long after in the summer of 2024. Having a competitive, exciting French side is paramount. News that France’s game against England on Sunday is an 80,000-plus sell-out comes as a welcome relief, after years of empty seats at the Stade de France, but mainly reflects the sense of hope generated by France’s crop of junior world champions.

“Let’s face it, French rugby has been in a sporting crisis over the last few seasons, which is linked to a management and regulatory crisis,” Kayser says. “The disappointment is absolutely enormous. You can see the Stade de France has not been full for a long time. There were 55,000 to watch France against South Africa.

“Now, we are finally getting people to work together. It might sound insignificant to someone outside France, but for once, the French federation has appointed a coaching staff that is competent across the board.

“Today, a lot of players are being selected as there is a dialogue between the club coaches and the national coaches, telling them which players are on fire. Who better to pass that information on than the domestic coaches? Everyone is working hand in hand to make France a success.”

If any generation can turn France into a force again, 10 years on from their last Six Nations title, it surely has to be this one. Take the remarkable depth at fly-half, for example, with Ntamack, Carbonel and Matthieu Jalibert all battling to start. “From crying our eyes out about a lack of fly-halves, now we have three,” Kayser says.

Knocking off England would confirm the revival has begun.