1
The World Cup elimination messages Galthie got from Henry, Woodward
France boss Fabien Galthie has revealed he was contacted by both Graham Henry and Clive Woodward the day after Les Bleus were eliminated from the Rugby World Cup last month. The French were knocked out at the quarter-final stage, losing by a single point to eventual winners South Africa.
ADVERTISEMENT
It was a crushing blow as the 2022 Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam winners were hotly tipped to win the World Cup on home soil. It was also Galthie’s first finals as head coach and he has taken solace from the message he got in the aftermath from Henry and Woodward.
Both those former coaches were eliminated at the quarter-finals when they were first in charge of New Zealand and England respectively at the finals in 2007 and 1999, but they rebounded to win the trophy four years later in 2011 and 2003 – something Galthie will now look to do with France at Australia 2027.
Asked in a long-form interview in Midi Olympique if he was inspired by how Henry and Woodward successfully responded to their failed first efforts by winning the Webb Ellis Cup at the second time of asking, Galthie revealed: “It’s funny that you tell me about that because two of them wrote to me the day after the game.
“Two who have had that experience. I quoted one of their phrases: sometimes things that need to happen don’t happen. And I thought that was very fair. And in their message, there was also this advice, or this sharing of experience: time will allow us to clarify things that seem obvious.”
"Faire mieux, de toutes nos forces"
L'entretien avec Fabien Galthié en Une de Midi Olympique ??
Le journal > https://t.co/pXsWakbuMH pic.twitter.com/Ggg9LCK9Th— Midi Olympique (@midi_olympique) November 27, 2023
Galthie wouldn’t go into the exact specifics of the messages but he has taken inspiration from what was written by Henry and Woodward. “I’d rather not tell you, but I had two very nice testimonies of references that you mentioned. These men have known success and also difficulty.
“The next day, you know… We read without reading. These two have touched the Holy Grail but they are not French. When I was hot (the day after losing to South Africa), I didn’t feel anything but over time, I came back to it [the messages]. Time took its toll and I understood what they felt and what they wanted to share.
ADVERTISEMENT
“They passed through territories that we have been using for the past month. It’s interesting to hear what they have to share.”
Looking ahead to the immediate future, Galthie admitted a decision needs to be taken on how France approach their summer tours. In recent years they have visited Japan and Australia with understrength squads and they are now reportedly scheduled to tour Argentina in 2024.
“We’re going to take it step by step. How are we going to work? Do I go back to a team of France that plays only eight so-called ‘premium’ matches where we play only November, February and March without playing the tours outside, with a team of France ‘development’ for the summer tours?
“The calendar is going to change in two years, how are we going to play? These are discussions that we are going to have with Jean-Marc (Lhermet), with the League… I decided to protect the players, to select the best players for only eight games.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The other nations have them play at least 12 Tests. Our best players therefore play fewer major international matches than the others, a third less. Do we continue like this? It’s going to be an interesting discussion. But when you’re playing at the international level, you first have to accept that you’re going into the unknown.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
27 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
27 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
27 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
27 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
27 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
27 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
27 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
7 Go to comments