LONG READ ‘Even with all their injuries and rarely at full-strength, France are still a formidable side’

Cast one’s mind back to the summer and the squeals of complaints from Kiwis when France arrived in New Zealand with an under-strength squad. An ‘insult’ and ‘disrespectful’ screamed the pundits, ignoring the fact that several of the absentees weren’t resting but recovering from serious injury.

Fortunately, New Zealand aren’t playing France next month; if they were, one or two of their more excitable commentators might froth at the mouth at the squad announced by Fabien Galthié on Wednesday.

For the visits of South Africa, Fiji and Australia, France will be without the injured Antoine Dupont, François Cros, Peato Mauvaka, Uini Atonio, Yoram Moefana, Gabin Villière, Théo Attissogbé, Jonathan Danty, Pierre Bourgarit and Joshua Brennan. Dupont’s understudy, Maxime Lucu, has been included in the squad but he has yet to play this season because of a thumb injury.

In casting its eye over the casualty list in Monday’s edition, Midi Olympique said it raised questions about ‘the French model’. It compared the manner in which South Africa cossets its players – Pieter-Steph Du Toit, for example, hasn’t played for his Japanese club since May 2024. Contrast that with France No.8 Gregory Alldritt, who played 27 matches for club and country last season and has featured six times for La Rochelle already this season.

What is the answer? Midi Olympique didn’t have one. Discussions between the FFR and the LNR, the governing body of the Top 14, about player release are “at a standstill”. There are valid arguments on both sides. The FFR wants the national side to be as competitive as possible, and the Top 14 wants to maintain its reputation as the best domestic league in the sport.

Caught in the middle are the players. Few of the regulars in the French squad have avoided serious injury in recent years. Charles Ollivon and Cyril Baille haven’t been included in Galthié’s squad because they’re still playing themselves back into form after long spells on the sidelines. Anthony Jelonch does make the cut, having recovered from two major knee operations since 2023, as do Gael Fickou and Romain Ntamack, both of whom have suffered serious injuries in the same period.

I couldn’t even play with my son while crouching down because I couldn’t bend my knee or get down on my knees. It was really painful all year long.

Ntamack has never quite recaptured the form he showed for France before he ruptured his knee ligaments in August 2023. The knee continued to trouble him last season despite the fact he was playing for Toulouse most weeks. “I would wake up in the morning and my knee would be swollen,” he said recently. “I couldn’t even play with my son while crouching down because I couldn’t bend my knee or get down on my knees. It was really painful all year long.”

Ntamack had an operation at the end of June and the pain has gone. The 26-year-old has played in six of Toulouse’s seven matches this season and is ready to resume once more his battle with Matthieu Jalibert for the No.10 shirt.

The Bordeaux fly-half is one of the more physically robust members of the France squad, True, he ruptured his knee ligaments on his international debut as a 19-year-old in 2018, but he was a surprise inclusion in France’s team to face Ireland and his teenage body – which had played only 15 professional matches – wasn’t ready.

Jalibert has since bulked up and has suffered few long-term injuries. The mental aspect of rugby is a different kind of challenge. During last year’s autumn internationals, Jalibert withdrew from the French squad after a heart to heart with Galthié. “There’s a lot of talk about wellbeing and mental health, but sometimes you have to know when to say stop when things get too much,” he explained. “It was the best option for everyone, and it did me good. I wasn’t feeling well.”

Among Jalibert’s role models is the former England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, a player the Frenchman describes as “inspiring”. In a recent interview with L’Equipe, the 26-year-old Jalibert said he saw in Wilkinson shades of himself. “Wilkinson was troubled. He had his anxieties, fear of judgment.”

Jonny was very open and very interested in the idea of collaborating. I think it’s something that will happen soon… He has a lot to offer me.

Jalibert had hoped to visit Wilkinson in England last season for a kicking tutorial as well as the chance to “meet him, talk, gain experience and advice”.

The meeting never transpired but Jalibert said it could happen this season and perhaps be more than just a one-off. “Jonny was very open and very interested in the idea of collaborating,” explained. “I think it’s something that will happen soon and I’m looking forward to it. He has a lot to offer me.”

Wilkinson launched a mental health awareness campaign on the eve of the 2019 World Cup, saying: “Mental health affects everyone, and I hope by talking about my own experiences and exploring one of the most challenging times in my life, I can help people reach out and seek support when they need it.”

If Wilkinson has a lot to offer Jalibert, then the Bordeaux fly-half has much to offer his country. He is a gifted player, as are the likes of Damian Penaud, Louis Bielle-Biarry and Thomas Ramos, all of whom will feature next month, although Ramos will only join the squad later, for personal reasons.

Even with all their injuries, France are still a formidable side; it’s just a shame that these days the world rarely gets to see the French at full-strength.