Fabien Galthié does not play it safe to enter the arena. For the opening match of the Nations Championship against New Zealand, the coach of the French XV unveiled a composition that smells like gunpowder, focused on a major tactical bet at the heart of the game. The Lucu-Jalibert hinge is officially launched, placing Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert at the controls to pilot the French attack against the undisputed masters of world .
The match sheet reveals an undeniable mark of Union Bordeaux Bègles. Eight players from the Gironde club are established, a critical mass which goes beyond simple coincidence. This strategy is based on the hypothesis that club automatisms, honed week after week under the UBB jersey, will survive international pressure.
Damian Penaud, formidable full-back, and Cyril Poirot, solid pillar, are among the key elements called upon to embody this collective strike force. The objective is clear: use this collusion to deconstruct the New Zealand machine. The UBB option is not anecdotal, it is structural and ideological.
Bordeaux's game is distinguished by its speed of transmission and its ability to make the back lines play in wide spaces, an approach which sometimes contradicts the rugby of conquest traditionally associated with the French XV. By aligning this hard core, Galthié is trying to import this expansive model onto the international scene to go against a New Zealand defense accustomed to dictating the pace and stifling opponents in their camp. The issue goes beyond simple selection: it is about changing tactical software against a team that excels in exploiting the slightest errors in defensive alignment.
This audacity carries its share of risks, especially for an entry match in a competition as demanding as the Nations Championship. Unlike a summer tour where experimentation is permitted, a defeat here would immediately compromise the path to the title. The pressure therefore rests heavily on the shoulders of the front pack, where the presence of Poirot and his Bordeaux comrades must guarantee a sufficient gain in meters to free the rear.
If the foundation does not hold up against the impact of the All Blacks, the creativity of the hinge risks turning into a death trap, exposing the team to lightning counter-attacks. This choice of composition sends a strong signal of ambition. By aligning this hinge and this Bordeaux base, Galthié is banking everything on the power of the attack and fluidity to dethrone the All Blacks.
It is a declaration of offensive intention, refusing management rugby to favor immediate impact and creativity against the team which serves as an absolute benchmark in the discipline. The confidence placed in this UBB block suggests that the path to victory lies in flawless execution of offensive schemes. The All Blacks' recent statistics reinforce the audacity of this choice.
8 tries scored per match. Faced with this scoring machine, France must absolutely avoid losing the ball and exploit every interval in the opposing defense. The Bordeaux model, based on rapid passing and constant changes of sides, could precisely exploit these flaws by forcing the New Zealanders to react rather than impose their game.
The recent history of international rugby shows that teams which dare to upset the favorites with an open game do better than those which try to imitate them. The most striking precedent remains South Africa in 2019, who beat the All Blacks in the World Cup final with a game based on speed and defensive pressure rather than brute force. Galthié seems to be inspired by this approach, banking on a hinge capable of making decisions in a fraction of a second and on forwards capable of sustaining a high pace.
“We don't change a team that wins, but we can change a team to win,” reacted a former French international on condition of anonymity. This quote sums up the state of mind that drives this selection: a desire to break with traditional patterns, even at the risk of failure, to break the glass ceiling against the All Blacks. This tactical bet is part of a broader dynamic of renewal of the XV of France.
Since 2020, Galthié has gradually integrated players from clubs like Bordeaux, La Rochelle or Toulouse, transforming the selection into a tactical laboratory. The mixed results in 2023, despite remarkable individual performances, pushed the management to radicalize its approach. The Nations Championship therefore represents an opportunity to validate this overhaul, with an unprecedented hinge and a Bordeaux base as the standard of a new era.
What are the consequences? This inaugural match will serve as a full-scale test for this new architecture. If the alchemy works, France immediately establishes itself as a contender for the final title of the Nations Championship.
In the event of failure, the entire validity of this “club within a team” will be questioned. The time has come for the Blues to prove that tactical audacity pays off against the world benchmark. Read at France Info Sport
Why this matters
The hinge is the most technical position in rugby, and the association of Lucu and Jalibert is not a simple administrative formality. It is the choice of a risky but potentially rewarded play against New Zealand. The predominance of UBB players, eight out of fifteen, confirms that the Gironde club has become the heart of French rugby. This tactical dependence on club automation to beat the All Blacks shows the evolution of the French XV towards a model of total confidence in its regional leaders. This audacious bet could redefine the standards of French rugby if the team manages to impose its pace against the world benchmark.
Frequently asked
Who makes up the hinge of the XV of France?
It’s the duo Maxime Lucu and Matthieu Jalibert. Galthié decided to associate them with the scrum-half and fly-half positions to lead the attack from the kick-off.
What is the weight of UBB in this team?
The influence is massive with eight holders from the Union Bordeaux Bègles. We find there in particular Damian Penaud and Cyril Poirot to support the offensive strategy.
What is at stake in this match?
This is the opening match of the Nations Championship. The objective is clear: dethrone the All Blacks and start the competition on the right foot thanks to calculated risk-taking.
Why is this composition a gamble?
Relying on such a large block of players from the same club and on an offensive hinge aims to get ahead of the New Zealanders, but this requires absolute precision.
What are the offensive assets of this team?
La vitesse de transmission et la capacité à exploiter les espaces larges, héritées du jeu bordelais, sont les principaux atouts. Damian Penaud, in particular, brings the dimension of a formidable finisher.
What are the major risks of this strategy?
The lack of physical robustness in the pack and the dependence on club automatisms in a situation of high international pressure. An alignment error or a loss of ball could be fatal against the All Blacks.
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