The three matches of the fall tour were rich in lessons for coach Fabien Galthié and his staff. Several players scored points, when others have lost them.
In many ways, a special scent reigned over this autumn tour of the Blues. A year after the trauma of the last World Cup, a few months after the earthquake of the summer affairs, the return of Antoine Dupont… As a result, the French XV won back its public by winning in style its three tests against Japan (52-12), New Zealand (30-29) and Argentina (37-23). All this, without Cyril Baille, Romain Ntamack and Damian Penaud…
On the purely sporting side, Fabien Galthié can draw interesting individual conclusions. Some players stood out, while others did not seize their chance.
They scored points
Thomas Ramos made people forget Romain Ntamack. Something that Matthieu Jalibert never managed to do. In the absence of the Toulouse fly-half, the usual full-back shone with the number 10 behind him. Unintentionally put under pressure due to the sidelining of the Bordeaux player, Ramos assumed his role as boss. His management and his alternation of foot/hand are a model of the genre. His efficiency against the posts is impressive (100% against the Blacks and Argentina). His aggressiveness is also a reason that pushed the staff to install him alongside the returning Antoine Dupont, who has only reinforced his status as the best player in the world. Ramos is more than an alternative at fly-half.
The other big man on the tour wears a red helmet. Louis “Bip-Bip” Bielle-Biarrey. The Bordeaux-Bègles winger is only 21 years old but what class, what pep and above all, what gas! Flashed at 35 km/h against New Zealand, the Isérois scored four tries during this tour, bringing his total to 10 in 14 selections. “He understands everything”, sums up Galthié. The future, and especially the present, is him.
The big biceps of Paul Boudehent and the hyperactivity of Peato Mauvaka are also worth noting. The first showed that he was not just a physical. With his Superman face, the third row from La Rochelle distinguished himself by his ability to meet the physical challenge of the international level, in attack or defense. As for the hooker from Toulouse, he is gradually establishing himself as the world reference in his position. “Peat'” can do everything, with or without the ball. And even finish matches in the third row…
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000They lost points
Matthieu Jalibert is the big loser of the tour. The Bordeaux player did not appreciate his downgrade in the hierarchy of fly-halfs, especially behind a full-back in the person of Thomas Ramos. Out of the squad against the All Blacks, he asked the staff to return to Bordeaux and not be part of the “extra-players”. A decision that did not really please Fabien Galhtié. Always successful with the UBB, Jalibert has never excelled with the blue jersey on his shoulders. Clearly, that is not going to happen any time soon… Now here are Ntamack, Ramos and even Dupont, who finished the last two matches at fly-half, ahead of him in Blue.
Another Bordeaux player is struggling to make his mark in the French team: Yoram Moefana. The 24-year-old centre is struggling to impose his qualities as a hybrid player. He did not succeed in making us forget Jonathan Danty or Nicolas Depoortère. The latter, expected to start for this tour, was not worried.
Finally, the case Grégory Alldritt asks. Galthié's base man, number 8 was coached early against the Blacks (46th) and was not on the sheet against the Pumas. A strong choice by the staff who no longer hesitate to discard out-of-form key players. If his credit is far from zero, the Rochelais knows the work he must accomplish in order to find his level. But internally, it is rumored that Alldritt is on his knees physically.
They are not dead
Three Toulon players are concerned by this category. First, Charles Ollivon. The great Charles, author of a neutral start to the season at club level, took advantage of François Cros' injury and Grégory Alldritt's absence to return to the squad for the last two matches. Starting against Argentina, the first captain of the Galthié era rediscovered his brilliance, delivering a major performance.
Gabin Villière also made his return to the Blues after a year's absence. He had the difficult task of replacing Damian Penaud and Théo Attissogbe. And Gabin did a Villière. The other winger in the red helmet of the Blues showed all his aggression, defended very well against the Blacks and offered himself a try against the Pumas.
The left pillar Jean-Baptiste Gros, long third in the hierarchy of left pillars behind Cyril Baille and Reda Wardi, has found a more than correct level.
The executives Uini Atonio (34 years old) and Gaël Fickou (30 years old) reminded us that they still had juice and were more than transitional players with the new generation.