XV of France: “The game is completely different”, Romain Ntamack talks about the offensive transformation of Fabien Galthié’s system

One month before the big return of the French team for the second phase of the Nations Championship, Romain Ntamack spoke to our colleagues from L'Équipe. Author of a high-quality start to the season in the championship, the Stade Toulousain opener, finally freed from his physical problems, is delighted to have “put the pleasure of playing rugby back at the center of everything”.

Absent due to injury during the 2026 Six Nations Tournament won by the Blues, the number 10 with 45 caps was called up by Fabien Galthié for the tour in the southern hemisphere. He was brilliant against Australia and Japan, within a much more offensive system than in the past.

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Asked about this, Ntamack does not hide his happiness: “Seeing this development during the Tournament in front of my TV made me want to quickly find the Blues. I didn't hesitate when Fabien (Galthié) called me to play this summer. I had a blast. The game is completely different from that of Fabien's first mandate, focused on dispossession.

“I had to take more initiative”

And to add, more individually: “At the time, I had to stick to that. I applied myself in this pattern where our team was more defensive. And I don’t forget that we won (with a Grand Slam in 2022). Rugby has evolved since then. I also had to evolve personally, to take more offensive initiatives, to rediscover this offensive appetite which has been my strength since I started rugby. It is.”

The French XV faces Fiji on November 7, South Africa on the 13th and Argentina on the 21st, as part of the second phase of the Nations Championship.