Schalk Burger believes that France have been “found out” tactically in the first three rounds of the Six Nations. Found out and worn out, by the looks of things.
The former Springbok flanker also pinpointed a lack of “intensity” so far in the Championship, contrasting their lethargy to their blood and thunder performance against South Africa in the quarter-final of the World Cup.
One suspects that if the Springboks had been playing week in, week out since the middle of November they might also be on the jaded side. As it is, the world champions and the rest of the southern hemisphere nations enjoyed a long leisurely break over Christmas, and they are still easing themselves back into action four months after the World Cup.
South Africa’s first Test of 2024 is against Ireland on 6 July, the same month that the All Blacks, Australia and Argentina play their first internationals of the year.
The Pumas host France in a two Test series in July, providing they are some French players still standing. If they’re shattered now, imagine how they’ll be in four months’ time, after the Top 14 and Champions Cup have run their course.
If Fabien Galthié has any sense he’ll leave his World Cup players at home. Head to the beach, boys, do nothing more energetic this summer than building a sandcastle. It will be an opportunity for Galthie to run an eye over the exciting band of youngsters who are making their mark in the Top 14: three-quarters such as Nicolas Depoortère, Léo Barré and Emilien Gailleton, the giant second-rows Emmanuel Meafou and Posolo Tuilagi, and promising loose forwards like the Toulouse trio of Mathis Castro-Ferreira, Léo Banos and Théo Ntamack.
These players have profited from the absence of their international team-mates this season, who disappeared for the World Cup, then returned for a few weeks before heading off to the Six Nations.
The Irish can win as many Grand Slams as they want, but they’re all meaningless if they can’t make an impression at the World Cup.
In all, there were just 97 days between the World Cup final and the opening match of the 2024 Six Nations. Which raises the question: should there be a Six Nations the year after a RWC? The federations need the cash but the players need a rest, and player welfare must be more than just kind words spoken earnestly.
As it is, this is a largely irrelevant Six Nations. Ireland are on course for another Grand Slam – richly deserved – but surely even their most fanatical supporter will feel a little hollow if they complete the clean sweep on 16 March. Ireland blew the big one in October, losing to New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-final and extending their baffling record of never reaching the last four of the tournament. The Irish can win as many Grand Slams as they want, but they’re all meaningless if they can’t make an impression at the World Cup.
England, on the other hand, are developing a knack for being shambolic in the Six Nations but Rugby World Cup smart. Wales and Ireland have won more Grand Slams this century than England (four, three and two respectively) but England have three RWC final appearances to their name, one of which was a victory. They very nearly made it four last October, running South Africa agonisingly close in the semi-final.
When Clive Woodward was appointed England coach in 1997 he told the press that he wanted to be judged on the World Cup. The first one, 1999, came a little too early for him but his squad was physically and mentally at their peak in 2003. That was also the year England won their only Grand Slam under Woodward. One Grand Slam in seven attempts could be considered an under-achievement, but what England fan cares when they are still the only northern hemisphere nation to have won the World Cup?
Eddie Jones, who was appointed coach of England after their disastrous 2015 RWC campaign (the only time the English have failed to reach the quarter-finals) was of a similar view to Woodward about his priorities. “Of course, the next game is important, no-one is ever saying it’s not,” he said in 2022. “But…the World Cup is the ultimate trophy.”
Such powerful emotions don’t just vanish from one week to the next. It will require several months, perhaps not until next season, before the players and staff are fully recovered.
This view wasn’t shared by Jones’ boss at the RFU, Bill Sweeney, who was of the opinion that “you’ve got to be competitive in the Six Nations, not just every four years at a World Cup”.
Jones and Sweeney are both right. The World Cup is the holy grail but the Six Nations is an important pathway towards that objective. But not the tournament immediately after the World Cup.
So far in this year’s championship, England have reverted to type, Ireland are back to their best and Scotland and Wales are as frustratingly inconsistent as ever. It’s the French who have taken everyone by surprise, not least their own media. ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ was the headline in last week’s Midi Olympique, a reference to an award-winning film that has packed out French cinemas this year.
In its analysis of what has gone wrong with France in the tournament, with just one win from their first three matches, Midi described Galthié as suffering a sporting form of post-traumatic stress. Galthié used the ‘trauma’ word himself in explaining how hard it had been to process the quarter-final defeat to South Africa. “I underwent a long period of strong introspection,” said Galthié at the start of this year. Had he and his staff the motivation and the desire to continue? It was discussed, and decided that they did.
Nonetheless, such powerful emotions don’t just vanish from one week to the next. It will require several months, perhaps not until next season, before the players and staff are fully recovered.
France may have fallen down in the Six Nations but they’ll be back on their feet next year – provided they’re given time to recover.
In his excellent recent book, The Boys of Winter, Lawrence Dallaglio describes what it was like for England to return home after winning the World Cup in Australia in 2003. The euphoria was short-lived, and when it wore off the exhaustion took over.
Most of the squad were back playing for their clubs within a fortnight, and in the 2004 Six Nations England were way off the pace. They lost at home to Ireland – their first defeat at Twickenham for five years – and then they went down to France, their first back-to-back defeats in the Six Nations for 11 years. And what did the summer bring? “Some stupid idiot had an idea,” wrote Dallaglio. “We’d been playing rugby for almost three years and now we’re going to play two Tests against the All Blacks and one against Australia…I tell you where we should have been going: we should have been going to a beach somewhere.”
Galthié gave his squad the week off after the draw against Italy. It’s not beach weather just yet in the south of France but the rest will have done the players some good. But the real rest must come this summer. France may have fallen down in the Six Nations but they’ll be back on their feet next year – provided they’re given time to recover.
If this is what passes for Rugby journalism nowadays, grab a wooden spoon.
You are probably not allowed to link to other articles but the best response to this article is from Conor Neville “Irish rugby thrust into role of pantomime villain“ on the RTE website.
I will link it to every Welsh and Scottish pal I’ve ever known! I’ve never laughed so hard.
It’s a classic. A timely masterpiece! Embrace the hate!
Schalk Burger, that the guy with the errant fingers in the eye area? Some standard to hold up as relevant.
Jiggery Pokery?
Irish fans definitely care, after the RWC break, it's part of the rebuild. Honestly the fans of all 6 Nations care to some degree, and this just reads like “why would I care when we've lost it”, not a comment on scheduling. French fans aren't fickle, and will be back. English fans are mostly sound, except those who fall for jingoistic blame-the-foreigners tripe in the right wing press (at least one of them here). I'm loving seeing Scotland doing well, hope to see Wales continue to rebuild with younger players, and you have to respect Italy determinedly getting a little better every year!
Schalk makes some good points, but Ireland have been an inspiration over the last 10 years. As a Welshman, I can lament our boom and bust form, but you cannot ignore Ireland's regular dominance over the likes of England and France, two of the World's biggest rugby playing nations. They're also unafraid of the All Blacks. They back themselves every time they take to the field. Good luck to them, they deserve it. They've weathered the storm of half a century of poor performances. Well done those boys. Da iawn chi.
Diolch!
Ireland kept striving to improve since about 2000. Wales seem to be regrouping and focusing on this mindset. Looks like a great group of young players. No opposition likes when Wales start throwing it around due to the incredible natural talent. That Welsh team in 2011 were top 2 in that world cup and could have taken it. Nobody had answers to that wave on wave attack. Really looking forward to seeing the progress in next few years. First thought after the Dublin match was an unconcious fearful premonition about the Millenium stadium next year.
Drivel.
I can see the point trying to be made but as an Ireland fan let me put things into perspective. The six nations is a great tournament with great history and is a brilliant annual event for multiple reasons. It’s a part of the cultural landscape. In the piece it mentions that Ireland have won 3 grand slams in the 6n era. And we have only won 4 ever. In nearly a century and a half. Irish rugby was absolutely nowhere not that long ago. Whipping boys year in year out. The progress had been incredible. They were right up there with SA and NZ in the WC. There was almost nothing in it. The youth teams in Irish rugby have been absolutely dominant as well for the last 3 or 4 years and when we do finally make that WC breakthrough which we will it may well open the floodgates.
How in hell is my comment SPAM?
Fkn mrns.
Hi there, rugbypass. Ytf is my innocent little comment hidden?
(xenophobia may not be allowed little angel)
I believe the irishs care.
The problem with the current edition is there doesn’t seem to be a challenger given what Scotland and England showed so far.
Of course they care. They’re the dominant team at the moment and likely to last for some time. Let's see what happens when their influx of guns for hire dries up.
England would have wanted to build on their RWC performance going into the cauldron of a six Nations. With a younger side and new coaches.
Ireland would have wanted to make amends for their disastrous RWC.
Wales are a young side. Would have wanted the game time. Scotland and Italy too. I would assume.
So the suggestion to skip a year in the 6 Nations - just because France have hit a wall - doesn’t make sense. This is a professional game - move on from the World Cup. Or give the players who need a break a break.
I care. The greatest sports tournament in the world is worth winning any year. I suspect the strongest nations have always been delighted to win it no matter how poor the opposition. Champions win hard and they win easy. They can only beat what’s in front of them.
Greatest sports tournament in the world the very debatable and arrogant lol. Even saying in rugby let alone the world would be untrue as that would be the world cup not the six nations haha.
I’d be thrilled with a second grand slam in a row. Such tired, jealous comments give me great joy. Thanks.
Totally agree. Absolutely hilarious, petty, and jealous SH spin on the WC - a tournament with a bunch of meaningless blowouts. You can be absolutely sure the SH unions would bite your hand off if you offered them a place in the best tournament in the world ( that's the 6N btw). SA have already stated their desire to join.
Love reading all these delusional and, frankly, very funny articles and comments. Such a lack of self awareness.
I think France have reverted to type which is being incredibly inconsistent the best of France is on par with Ireland and the worst of France is on par with Italy what we saw before the world cup was France finally hitting consistency now its back to normal
Saw a good article here saying last year 66-75% of French tries were from broken play. Dupont being the man who brought lethal attacking order to the disorder. Only one try like that this year. The RWC was a blow but the Ireland match also. French teams need to feel they are the best. With Dupont gone the Irish loss really really hurt their confidence.