Six Nations: How Fabien Galthie helped France find their mojo

Galthie has changed somewhat since those abrasive early coaching days.

In his final club stint – a season with Toulon – the club’s then president Mourad Boudjellal saw a shift.

“He could use robots instead of players, and he’d be fine with it,” Boudjellal told Midi Olympique, external when Galthie was installed as the next France coach in May 2019.

“I met Fabien when he was heavily criticised because of all this but he was trying to change his approach, to evolve his relationship with people. I discovered a sensitive, vulnerable, cultured guy with a wide range of interests.”

An international environment, where the stakes are higher, but access to players is much shorter, perhaps needs a lighter touch to bring talents together.

When Jalibert walked out of the squad, Galthie remained sanguine.

“Everyone has their own emotions and is free to share them,” Galthie said.

“We need determination, strong players. Up until now he’s always given his best. He will continue with the national team, if he so chooses. It’s down to him to decide.”

Jalibert duly hit form, returned and, but for a minor calf problem that ruled him out of the win over Italy, would have started all five of this year’s Six Nations matches.

Galthie has not mellowed too much though.

The ruthlessness and intensity remains.

At the start of the tournament, he axed France’s all-time leading try scorer Damian Penaud, still only 29, along with back-row stalwart and sometime captain Gregory Alldritt and veteran centre Gael Fickou.

“There are some injuries obviously, but there is also a spirit of competition between the players and in some positions we want to keep them on their toes to compete with each other for the positions, to make the team,” Galthie told BBC Sport at the start of the tournament.

“That’s my way of thinking.”

It is difficult to deny it is working.