Galthié's playful tribute to Dupont and Lucu before France's Fiji win

A former scrum-half paying tribute to his two current number 9s: that was the scene the night before France's big win over Fiji. Fabien Galthié, France's head coach, used the team's traditional jersey presentation to praise Antoine Dupont and Maxime Lucu. He did it with a grin for one and a serious voice for the other.

What did Galthié say?

First up was Dupont, the Toulouse scrum-half and France captain, who was about to win his 65th cap. Galthié went for teasing. "I searched, I thought, and I found nothing. And now I've just found it. I think it's your 65th cap. You beat me, I think I'm on 64... Enjoy the game!"

There is a nice link between the two men. Both have been named the best player in the world: Galthié in 2002, Dupont almost twenty years later, in 2021. Galthié ended his own playing career on 64 caps, after the 2003 World Cup semi-final defeat to England (24-7).

Then came Lucu, and the tone changed. "This is very serious," Galthié began. He reminded everyone that the Bordeaux scrum-half, a two-time European champion with UBB, captained Les Bleus this summer in the first part of the Nations Championship tour in the Southern Hemisphere (New Zealand, Australia and Japan).

"Max, this summer you were our captain, we brought back 12 points, and we grumble about not winning against the All Blacks. But you led our group and our team. You were magnificent. And thank you!"

Why does it matter now?

The words turned out to be well timed. In the 54-17 win in Lyon on Saturday, fly-half Romain Ntamack suffered a serious injury. Lucu then stepped in at number 10, and he did the job with accuracy and efficiency.

That is a reminder of how much France have leaned on both scrum-halves lately.

What's next?

France now face South Africa, the two-time world champions, on Friday evening. The big question is who will wear the number 10 shirt: Dupont or Lucu. Galthié has not answered it yet, at least not in this speech.