France Rugby Coach Warns Team Needs Fixing Despite Win Over Australia

France’s rugby coach, Fabien Galthie, shared his honest thoughts on the team’s current performance after their recent win against Australia in the Autumn series. Despite winning the match 48-33, Galthie said France still has a long way to go before reaching the high standards they showed during the last World Cup cycle.

The game took place recently as part of the Autumn international rugby matches. France started strong but showed signs of weakness, especially in the first half, when they gave away many penalties. At halftime, the score was tied 19-19, reflecting some struggles in discipline and defense. Galthie pointed out that these issues have been holding the team back from performing at their best.

He compared the current team’s performance with that of four years ago during the 2023 World Cup. At that time, France was seen as one of the top favorites and managed 24 wins out of 26 matches. However, this year, the team has not been as solid or consistent. Their recent matches included a tough loss to South Africa (32-17), and while they won against Fiji and Australia, those victories were not convincing enough.

Galthie also mentioned the absence of the team’s captain, Antoine Dupont, due to a long-term injury. This has made it harder for the team to find stability and cohesion. He warned that conceding 12 tries in just three matches and giving away many penalties, especially inside their own 22-meter line during the Australia game, shows how much work still lies ahead.

Despite these challenges, Galthie remains optimistic. He sees strong competition within the squad and believes some new players have great potential. One such player is Nicolas Depoortere, a center who has scored four tries in the last two tests, showing promise for the team’s future.

Looking ahead, France is preparing for their next important match against Ireland in the Six Nations tournament, which will begin in February. Galthie and the team are working hard to improve their discipline, defense, and overall consistency to compete at the highest level again.

In summary, while France’s recent win over Australia was positive, the team’s coach knows there is still a long journey to return to their peak form. The focus will be on fixing their weaknesses and building a strong, competitive squad for the upcoming rugby season.