'Galthie is an amazing coach but there are stories that would leave a bad taste in your mouth'
Former Scottish international Johnnie Beattie has shed light on the inner workings of French national head coach Fabien Galthie, who he believes could be a world-class coach if he can overcome some of his personality traits.
Beattie was talking on Le French Rugby podcast, with fellow ex-international Benjamin Kayser, about their experiences with the fiery Galthie, who has a reputation in French rugby circles as a uniquely passionate and driven force, but one which could leave carnage in his wake.
“There were stories that we heard from Stade Francais which were worst, if not the same,” said Beattie, who retired from professional rugby earlier this year and who was coached by Galthie at Montpellier.
“He’s a guy that at the World Cup refused to play the third and fourth place playoff, when he was a player. After losing the semi he said ‘I’m not playing’ and just flew home. It was about him and he wanted to be the best and that’s it.
“Fundamentally he is a top-class coach. I’ve said before, he is the best coach I’ve worked with from a technical perspective but there are personality traits that hold him back. If it wasn’t for them he would be one of the best in the world. 100 per cent.
“To give you an example. We had a player that re-signed a contract at Montpellier with Mohed Altrad, three year contract, good sum of money, playing really well but Fabien hadn’t okayed it, and just to prove he was the boss, he said ‘I refuse to have that guy, it wasn’t me that okayed it, pay him out’ and that was it. A week later, the guy who signed this contract, had three years of money in a cheque paid into his bank account. The guy had to go find another club, sometime in July.
“There’s a long history of stories. He’s an amazing coach. A very, very smart man as well. But there are stories that would leave a bad taste in your mouth’.
Kayser, who was also coached by Galthie, said it was ‘a bit complicated for me to comment on that one’ because he was his first professional coach at Stade Francais.
“I had Nick Mallett when I arrived in 2003 but I played one game under him off the bench. He [Galthie] trusted me like no body ever did,” said Kayser.
“You can say what you want about him. He’s ballsy. He’s got nuts of steel. He backs himself and he’s got great strategy. But I’ll give you an example, when I was 19, 20, a semi-final in Bordeaux against Toulouse, who were killing everyone at the time.
“Remember at the Stade Chaban-Delmas? The Bordeaux pitch, there is a long tunnel to go through, you walk for a long, long time. And he stood behind me the whole tunnel, and he was just whispering stuff in my ear. Do this and do that. Literally helping. I was so focused I wasn’t really listening to what he was saying. Fair enough, he’s the coach, I wasn’t going to tell him to f*** off.
“I play really well and we win. I’m sky high and shake his hand and first thing he says to me is like – he likes to play poker face the whole time – he says “You’re not going to say thank you? See how much I helped you in the tunnel? I gave you that game didn’t I.”
“I’m 20 so I say ‘thank you Fabien’, I’m not really standing up for myself. At the same time, he trusted me like nobody else. He really did help me and what he told me was true. What I worked on worked.
“He’s the only coach that said on a Tuesday ‘Hang on…let met think. So we’re going to create this play. So this is what happens at the lineout, you do this, this and that and that and score’ and we did.”
“He’s a strategic genius. But I’ve seen him to do stuff to others that was very, very tough. He struggled with people who needed a human side. He struggles with people who are not ruthless or hardcore as him, which is a trait of all the guys who are very, very driven. Not quite like Michael Jordan in The Last Dance, but that sort of angle.
“The only way is tough. If you need the heart and soul stuff then f*** off… but some guys do [need the human side]. The best coaches need to recognise that the fifteen guys in the room, and those all individuals. He was a bit ‘My way or the door’.”
Both agreed Galthie was best suited to be a national coach. “100 per cent,” the pair both said.
“We said back at Montpellier that this guy is capable of ruining a club environment, his continuous-ness everyday but jeez, if you could take him to the French team or Scotland team during an 8 week campaign, be it a summer tour or World Cup, then this guy would be number one on everyone’s list,” said Beattie. “He is the best attack coach in France, without a doubt. You look at the England game in the Six Nations. The way they broke down the English defence, it had Fabien written all over it. They’re still the same plays that we used in Montpellier. The same open field structure plays and the same pop balls over the shoulder to unlock defences, it was all Fabien.
“Now you’ve got him married with Shaun Edwards. Unbelievable.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
46 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
12 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to comments