9 coaches who could take on France job if it all goes bad for Noves
Bernard Laporte has told Guy Noves that France must win three of their four November internationals. But what happens if it all goes wrong? James Harrington lists nine coaches who could take over, in no particular order of seriousness
France coach Guy Noves will not publicly admit it, but a dismal South African tour for Les Bleus means his job is as close to on the line as it has ever been.
FFR president Bernard Laporte has issued a public vote of confidence, a dreaded statement that often signals the imminent death-knell of a coaching career. But this one came with a caveat that – ironically – offered more certainty than an unconditional insistence of support would have done.
Laporte publicly warned Noves that France had to win three of their four November internationals – which features two Tests against the All Blacks, as well as South Africa and Japan – otherwise questions of a “would you like directions to the nearest job centre?” nature may be asked.
So, Noves is officially safe. For now. New elite player systems have replaced older new elite player systems – the national coach can now name 45 players, as well as 20 development players, whose training, fitness and rest periods are under his control. And, if he survives November, it’s more than highly likely that Noves will take France to the World Cup in 2019.
But, for the sake of argument, here are nine coaches who could take over if it all goes wahooni-shaped at the end of the year.
Fabien Galthie
Montpellier is a common thread in this list, and new Toulon boss Galthie is the first with links to the Mediterranean coast club. His brand of sexy rugby turned the Herault side into one of the most watchable – and, from time to time, frustrating – in the Top 14. For a while, he was the heir apparent for the France job. But, in late 2014, things went horribly wrong. It has taken until this year to sort out the mess of his departure from the club, during which time he has been on gardening leave and media pundit duty.
It remains to be seen whether that break has been good or not for Galthie. Certainly Toulon boss Mourad Boudjellal thinks he will be hungrier than ever when he returns to the dugout. He’s been chasing the former scrum-half for some time, even before Diego Dominguez’s brief and ill-advised turn in the big chair, there were rumours that big, bad Boudjellal had the coaching hots for Fabien. Which could be a problem if France want him. It has taken Boudjellal so long to get his man, he’s unlikely to want to let him go, even if good buddy Laporte does the asking.
Franck Azema
The man who finally ended Clermont’s long and painful wait for some deserved silverware would surely be on any semi-serious list for France’s top job. Azema’s credentials are unimpeachable. Clermont are always challenging on domestic and European fronts. They are breathtaking and innovative in attack, scrooge-like and savage in defence. They are as close to a classic French side as you will see in the modern game. They even have – whisper it quietly – flair… What wouldn’t France give to see some of that dressed up in Les Bleus’ shirts?
Gonzalo Quesada
Another coach with Top 14-winning credentials. And Quesada did it with a predominantly French, predominantly young, Stade Francais side. What happened in the two seasons that followed the Paris club’s surprise march to the title was caused by backroom problems as much as any on the field.
But he may have taken himself out of the immediate reckoning for Les Bleus. He gave up the Stade hotseat in favour of a job at ProD2 side Biarritz. The Basque club is clearly building a side for an assault on promotion – but if Noves does go in the next 12 months (and nothing is certain), FFR bosses are unlikely to look to the French second tier to find his replacement.
[rugbypass-ad-banner id=”1473306980″]
Patrice Collazo
Until recently, the job of young, charismatic pretender to the French rugby coaching throne belonged to former Bordeaux coach Raphael Ibanez. He was, before Noves got the job, the media and public favourite to take over from Philippe Saint-Andre after the 2015 World Cup. But, his ill-timed insistence on fiddling with Six Nations media commitments while his Begles repeatedly fizzled like a damp firework in the Top 14 ultimately cost him his job. And, for now at least, his shot at the Marcoussis hotseat.
The current hot young coaching property in France is 43-year-old pitbull Patrice Collazo. The former prop with a solitary international cap has – with a little help from right-hand man Xavier Garbajosa – taken La Rochelle from entertaining zeroes to all-conquering heroes in a frankly ridiculously short time. And on a budget less than half that of some clubs in the French top flight. The question is whether cut-price success can translate into big-time glory. He would not be the first coach to find things suddenly, surprisingly get a whole lot more difficult when when money is no object.
Vern Cotter
As with their recently overturned long-standing refusal to go down the oh-so gauche shirt sponsorship route, France so far have resisted looking overseas for a coach. If they decide to change their mind, they could do worse to consider the new man at Montpellier.
If Noves goes sooner rather than later, they would have to pay the Mediterranean club a pretty penny to prise him out of his freshly minted contract, which may well count against him. But, he’s fluent in French, which would work in his favour. He has proven experience of the Top 14 with Clermont, which is a definite plus. And he worked wonders with Scotland in his short tenure as national coach. Imagine what he could do with the richer resources in l’hexagone.
Jake White
Speaking of successful overseas coaches, here’s another one with that heady combination of international and French rugby experience. The 2007 World Cup-winner turned Montpellier (there they are again) from thoroughly entertaining also-rans into brutal, trophy-winning, Top 14-challenging, opposition-munching monsters. But, his Montpellier left fans cold, which strangely failed to concern boss Mohed Altrad. He also mysteriously failed to bother to learn the language – which really didn’t go down too well with Altrad. It would be unlikely to impress the suits at FFR headquarters. Always assuming he applies for the job if and when it becomes vacant in the first place.
Pierre Mignoni
Pierre, who? Mignoni’s record is not as silverware-coated some of the previous names, but make no mistake the star of Lyon’s young head coach is on the rise. It may be a bit early for Mignoni’s name to be mentioned in such proximity to the France job, but he’s doing smart things at Lyon. Maybe not this time, but look out for his name on the serious serious list in a few years.
Simon Mannix
Another leap of faith, this option from overseas – who has more than a hint of the Cotters about him, minus the international experience. The New Zealander has built an impressive unit at Pau since taking over at the start of the 2014/15 season, when the club was in the ProD2. In his first season, he took them to the Top 14, then guided them to a more-than creditable eighth place in the French top flight at the first time of asking. He’s been in France before, helping Racing 92 return to the Top 14 in 2009, so there’s no denying his French qualifications. And, like Cotter, he does speak the language. But he’s probably just a little low on overall experience for the conservative folks at Marcoussis to seriously consider in the immediate future.
Nick Mallett
It is so written in the justified, ancient and secret code of the rugby writers’ illuminati that the former South Africa and Italy coach must, at least once, be linked to any vacant, soon-to-be-vacant, possibly soon-to-be-vacant, or theoretically-vacant-at-some-point-in-the-future international or high-ranking club job going, no matter how tenuous, vacuous or simply made up that link may be.
This is despite the fact that (a) Mallett has not held a permanent international coaching role of any sort since the Italy job in 2011, and (b) he must be having a far too much fun ripping lumps out of coaches, referees and players in his current role as a semi-retired media pundit.
For the sake of fairness, Mallett – like Cotter – does have French rugby experience. He coached Stade Francais to the Top 14 title in 2003 and 2004. And he turned down Mourad Boudjellal’s offer of the big chair at Toulon – though whether that would actually endear him to FFR president Bernard Laporte, who got the job he rejected in 2011, is another question entirely.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments