Why this Six Nations will decide the future of French rugby
Why this Six Nations will decide the future of French rugby
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Les Bleus are in must-win territory as they begin another Six Nations campaign with big consequences for head coach Fabien Galthie in particular. The trope that ‘you never know which France are going to turn up’ for the Six Nations has long since been dispelled. Truthfully, it was always more lazy stereotype than searingly accurate truism but, in recent years, they have become perhaps the most consistent rugby force in the northern hemisphere.
![[France won a grand slam in the 2022 Six Nations]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/09/06/14/GettyImages-1386888766.jpg)
Since Fabien Galthie took charge following the 2019 World Cup, Les Bleus haven’t finished lower than second in the five editions of the Six Nations they’ve contested. They’ve developed an explosive, scintillating back-line that has game-changers in every position, led by the best player in the world, with a skillset the sport has never seen before, in Antoine Dupont.
![[France suffered a heartbreaking defeat on home soil to South Africa at the 2023 World Cup]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/10/15/22/GettyImages-1737790714.jpg)
Athletic freaks dotted throughout their pack, combined with a dynamic but hard-grafting back row, possibly the best complete coaching staff in world rugby installing systems the players buy into and the best domestic league on the planet providing a pipeline of fresh talent have all added up to make them a formidable force.
![[Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack will combine once again in the 2025 Six Nations]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/30/1/35/GettyImages-1386715426.jpeg)
This ‘golden generation’ that, in addition to Dupont, boasts superstars such as Romain Ntamack, Damian Penaud, Gael Fickou, Gregory Alldritt and Uini Atonio has thrilled fans but also avoided the dysfunction that sometimes plagued former iterations of the French team.
Yet for all the plaudits they rightly receive, the 2025 Six Nations is the most important in French rugby history and will likely come to define not only this squad but the future direction of the national team. No country is under greater pressure and this championship is the very definition of must-win for Les Bleus as they approach a fork in the road.
