LONG READ Galthie's inherent conservatism could yet hinder France as World Cup approaches

Rassie Erasmus may be a pantomime villain for much of the rugby world but no one can deny he backs youth. In a sport known for its conservatism, South Africa’s head coach is fearless when it comes to selection. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough is his maxim.

So what if the Springboks lose a Test match here and there? Short-term grief for long-term glory. It’s all about the Webb Ellis Cup for Rassie.

This summer, for instance, Erasmus infused his squad with fresh blood for the first round of Nations Championship matches, calling on young talents such as Jaco Williams, Paul de Villiers, Vusi Moyo and Riley Norton. It is a continuation of an audacious policy introduced in June 2025 when he unveiled nine uncapped players in the South African squad.

As former Springboks Breyton Paulse put it: “When I was playing…newcomers were often told they were too green, with lots to learn. But that’s not the scene anymore. These youngsters are stepping into a robust team environment that’s ripe for them to just fit in and flourish.”

Fabien Galthié could do with a dash of Rassie’s daring. Last week the France coach announced the 42 players for next month’s second round of Nations Championship games and there was a jaded feel to some of the selections in the forwards.

Galthié has made some bold calls in recent seasons in the backs – the likes of Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Théo Attissogbe – but he’s much less trusting of youth up front. The only youngster who’s established himself in the pack since the last World Cup is Oscar Jegou, the rangy 23-year-old flanker from La Rochelle.

The World Cup is still a year away. The four Tests next month are the perfect opportunity to let loose some bolters.

The World Cup is still a year away. The four Tests next month are the perfect opportunity to let loose some bolters. Instead Galthié has recalled the La Rochelle loose forward pair of Grégory Alldritt and Paul Boudehent after a year’s absence. He’s also selected two injury-prone thirty somethings in Charles Ollivon and François Cros. Both are fine players, as is Cameron Woki, another veteran who will be in Australia next year.

True, there were a couple of youngsters among the loose forwards selected – Esteban Capilla and Marko Gazzotti – but the latter has had to withdraw because of an injury picked up playing for Bordeaux on Sunday.

Who has Galthié called up? The 30-year-old Anthony Jelonch, who has barely played any rugby this season after recovering from one of the many injuries that have bedevilled his career in recent years.

Why didn’t Galthié call on Théo Ntamack, the dynamic Toulouse No8 and the younger brother of Romain? Ntamack has started the season strongly. He’s playing with greater maturity and intelligence, and is more rounded as a result. “His physical presence on the ball is a huge boost for us,” said Jean Bouilhou, Toulouse’s forward coach, last week. “And defensively, he’s put in the work. That’s what we ask of him too – not just to be involved when he has the ball. He’s worked hard on those aspects.”

Then there is the raw power provided by the Clermont blindside, Kevin Noah, yet another player to have come through the Massy finishing school in the Parisian suburbs. The 25-year-old was outstanding last week in defeat to Leinster. As Clermont’s local paper remarked: “Noah was the only forward to give Clermont the upper hand as he went head-to-head with the Irish players.”

Another exciting but inexperienced French flanker is Antoine Deliance. There’s a touch of the Henry Pollock to the 21-year-old Deliance – at least in style and physique.

Noah, all 6ft 2 and 19 ½ stones of him, has huge potential. It should be tapped by Galthié; one suspect Erasmus would have capped him by now.

Another exciting but inexperienced French flanker is Antoine Deliance. There’s a touch of the Henry Pollock to the 21-year-old Deliance – at least in style and physique. The pair are both 6ft 2in and tip the scales at 15 ½ stone.

The difference, one might argue, is in temperament. Pollock is brash and provocative, a showman as well as a sportsman. Deliance led France to the U20 Six Nations title in 2025 and this season he has captained Lyon, displaying what Mid Olympique described recently as “remarkable maturity”. When he was named captain at the start of the season, Lyon’s head coach, Karim Ghezal, explained: “It’s not a difficult choice, but an obvious, logical one that’s clear to me and the squad.”

Deliance, however, has yet to win over the coach of France.

Galthie’s conservatism could be costly at RWC 2027. He is banking on his veteran forwards avoiding injury in the next twelve months. The omens aren’t good. Ollivon, Cros, Boudehent and Jelonch have all suffered serious injuries in the last couple of years, and already this season Galthie is without his second-row pair of Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament – the latter sometimes used in the back-row. The vastly experienced hooker Julien Marchand is also injured but instead of calling on an exciting but untested replacement – such as Lucas Martin of Bayonne – Galthie has selected forwards he knows.

This is not the way of Erasmus. He works closely with Kevin Foote, the Junior Springboks head coach, and Dave Wessels, the general manager of high performance. The moment a young talent is identified, Erasmus acts: “We try and get guys as quickly as possible into the set-up, just to see the guy eye-to-eye.”

Some of these young players are ready for Test rugby, others aren’t yet. But at least Erasmus is giving them the chance to go ‘eye-to-eye’. Galthie is more cautious, but you don’t win World Cups with caution.