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Four in frame for France role after Laporte rejects reports Galthie has the job

Demba Bamba has taken well to international rugby and already cemented himself in the French matchday 23. (Getty Images)

Four coaches remain in the frame to become the next France coach, after FFR President Bernard Laporte publicly denied Fabien Galthie had already got the job.

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Media outlets were quick to pounce on a report in L’Equipe on Tuesday that Galthie had effectively been handed the keys to the French rugby kingdom. The article claimed his long coronation would start with him joining the national set-up ahead of the World Cup in Japan, leading to a complete takeover from Jacques Brunel after the tournament.

Some reports even named Lyon’s Pierre Mignoni and Toulouse’s William Servat as Galthie’s favoured lieutenants.

But, Laporte told La Provence on Wednesday: “Nothing has been recorded. We will make a decision within two weeks.”

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He did let slip the number of candidates on his all-French shortlist: “Galthie is one of the possibilities. Like three others.”

Laporte’s comment echoed claims by journalist Mathieu Lartot. He told France TV Sport: “Fabien Galthie is not yet the coach of the XV de France.

“He assured me that he had not signed a single contract with the FFR. There are discussions. They are examining avenues for collaboration. Things have been accelerating over the past five days. But that doesn’t mean that the games are over.”

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The FFR, too, had weighed into the discussion with a tweet saying:

“Following the statements and assumptions made about the organisation of the staff of the XV de France after the 2019 World Cup, the French Rugby Federation confirms that no contract has been finalised to date. Several hypotheses are being studied.”

A second tweet added: “Jacques Brunel will decide on the organisation of his staff and will speak once it has been ratified. Its decision will be taken and communicated within 15 days.”

Laporte’s search area for someone to take over from Brunel shrank when France’s clubs voted down a plan to look overseas – ruling his personal choice, Ireland coach Joe Schmidt, along with media favourite Warren Gatland, out of the reckoning.

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Outgoing Castres Olympique coach Christophe Urios, for example, took himself off any possible list when he signed a four-year deal with Bordeaux earlier this year. Club president Laurent Marti had expressly sought assurances that Urios would not jump ship for the France post should it be offered before offering him the job.

So, here are the four names most likely to be on Laporte’s short list:

Fabien Galthie – By Laporte’s own admission, the former Montpellier and Toulon coach remains firmly on the list of possibles. It’s a gig that the man who was an experienced international scrum-half in the early years of the FFR president’s reign as France coach in the noughties has coveted for a long time. His big advantage, however – that he is not tied to a current coaching contract – is also his big disadvantage. While he has remained close to rugby in his capacity as a pundit for Six Nations broadcaster France 2, he has been out of coaching since losing the Toulon job at the end of last season. Widely regarded as a smart tactician, his player-management skills have been called into question…

Pierre Mignoni – The head honcho at Lyon has long been mentioned in dispatches as a future France coach. And he is another with long links to Laporte – first as an international player, than as a young coach under Laporte’s wing at Toulon from 2011 to 2015. Mignoni’s star is on the rise. He’s doing smart things at the ambitious club, coaching them to the Champions Cup for the first time last season – and almost certain to repeat that trick again this time around. And he coached the French Barbarians on their tour of South Africa in June 2017. But he’ll likely be expensive. The same year as he took charge of the French Baa-Baas, he signed a long-term deal to stay at Lyon until 2023.

Franck Azema – Last season was a injury-ravaged disaster for Azema’s Clermont. But, like Toulouse the campaign previously – and, perhaps, Toulon this time around – that could be a good thing. Clermont are second in the Top 14; and have a home semi-final in the Challenge Cup on the back of some bonkers all-out attacking rugby. The coach would surely be on any semi-serious list for France’s top job. Azema’s credentials are unimpeachable. He could be just what France needs, and with his Clermont contract up in June 2020, he may be available just when Laporte needs him.

Laurent Travers and Laurent Labit – The Racing duo have been linked to plenty of vacancies recently – including, for a while earlier this year, the Italian job. They, too, have contractual issues. Their current deals tie them to the club until 2021 – but a Top 14 title and two European Cup final appearances since 2016 mean they would be tempting for any union president.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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