Fabien Galthié has become accustomed to highlighting what suits him. After the victory of the French rugby team, by one point, against New Zealand (30-29), on November 16, the coach of the French XV decided to underline that “what matters is the result, the efficiency”. A little over a year ago, after the elimination of Les Bleus in the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Cup, also by a narrow margin (29-28), the former scrum half insisted on “expected points” – The points that should have been added based on the number of opportunities – largely favorable to his troops, according to him.
As we turn the page on 2024, with a final match against Argentina, on Friday, November 22 at the Stade de France (9:10 p.m.), in Saint-Denis, Lotois only wants to remember one thing from the twelve months that have passed. : “We are the best European nation in 2024.” In support of his statement, the technician, never skimping on statistics of all kinds, maintains that “England has lost seven times, Ireland already three times”.
Certainly, Les Bleus have only been defeated twice: in February, against the Irish who were aspiring to a new title in the Six Nations Tournament; in July, in Argentina, with a largely renewed team that had defeated the Pumas a week before. However, if we look at the year from another angle than the number of defeats conceded, the overall picture seems less exciting than Fabien Galthié would have us believe.
Racist comments and rape accusations.
The year 2024 will continue to be especially marked by extra-sports matters. In this case, those who accompanied the tour to South America in July. The sporting dimension quickly became secondary. First, with defender Melvyn Jaminet’s racist comments: they earned him a thirty-four week suspension. Then for the accusations of aggravated rape made against the second Hugo Auradou and the third Oscar Jégou. His fate could be decided on November 25 during a dismissal hearing in Mendoza (Argentina).
The truth is that, on the pitch, the ‘bleus’ did not show their best side either. Particularly during the Six Nations Tournament. This is how this defeat against XV du Trèfle occurred, away (38-17) and at home, in Marseille. What followed was not much more pleasant. Grégory Alldritt and his companions miraculously emerged victorious from Scotland, while their opponents were sure of having achieved victory with a last attempt, which was ultimately invalidated.
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