Les Bleus will become even stronger when Ollivon’s back
IF a register was required of just how much true strength-indepth Fabien Galthie has built, with a squad that is three deep in nearly all positions, the truest measure is the absence of his first-choice captain, Charles Ollivon, from their 2022 Six Nations Grand Slam push. Ollivon was a huge driving force for France in the first two seasons of Galthie’s reign as France head coach and he described the athletic 6ft 6ins Toulon flanker as a born leader, “who brings people together”. He added: “He is often the first person to put his body on the line – he leads by example.” That inspirational quality was also evident in Ollivon’s try count in and around the time he was made captain. His spectacular 50m touchdown in the World Cup quarter-final against Wales in Oita was followed by two tries in the win over England in Paris in the 2020 Six Nations, to put the icing on his first match as captain.
He followed that with tries against Italy and Scotland, and in the 2021 Six Nations he was on the scoreboard again with tries against Ireland and Wales.
However, Ollivon’s commitment has come at a cost in terms of injuries. He was ruled out this season by a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained last June, and has previously had to recover from a severe shoulder injury.
The esteem in which the skipper is held by Galthie was obvious when he said in January that it was important that he recuperate fully rather than rush back, and that the Six Nations was too soon.
“Charles spent a lot of time out with a shoulder injury that almost ended his career. I don’t think an injury to the cruciate ligaments of the knee will stop him. The boy is tenacious and exemplary for all of us. He is gaining muscle psychologically, as well as physically.”
In the meantime, Antoine Dupont has done an outstanding job as France’s stand-in captain, and Ollivon has not yet started playing again for Toulon.
When he does, France will become even more of a side with the multiple threats that are essential to any world champion contender.