Six Nations: How Fabien Galthie helped France find its magic

Galthie has changed somewhat since those early training days.

In his last stint with the club – a season with Toulon – then club president Mourad Boudjellal witnessed a transformation.

“He can use robots instead of players, and he will be OK with that,” Boudjellal told Medi Olympique., external When Galthie was appointed as France’s next coach in May 2019.

“I met Fabian when he was under fire for all of this, but he was trying to change his approach, and develop his relationship with people. I discovered a sensitive, vulnerable, cultured man with a wide range of interests.”

An international environment, where the stakes are higher, but access to players is much shorter, may need a lighter touch to bring talent together.

When Jalibert left the team, Galthie remained optimistic.

“Everyone has their own feelings and is free to share them,” Galthi said.

“We need determination and strong players. So far he has always given his best. He will continue with the national team, if he chooses to. It is up to him to decide.”

Jalibert duly returned to form, but due to a minor calf issue that ruled him out of the win over Italy, he would have started all five of this year’s Six Nations matches.

Despite this, Galthie has not matured much.

The cruelty and severity remain.

At the start of the tournament, he eliminated France’s all-time top goalscorer Damien Penaud, still only 29 years old, along with stalwart back-row player and sometimes-captain Grégory Alldret and veteran midfielder Gael Fico.

“Obviously there are some injuries, but there is also a spirit of competition between the players and in some positions we want to keep them ready to compete with each other for positions, to make the team,” Galthie told BBC Sport at the start of the tournament.

“That’s my way of thinking.”

It’s hard to deny that it works.