The numbers behind the hire
You can hear Geoffrey Doumayrou before you see him. The new France defence coach has been at Marcoussis since Monday, and his rasping voice carries across every defensive session. The reason Fabien Galthié wanted him is easy to find. Since he took over the defence at Montpellier in the summer of 2024, the club conceded 609 points in his first season, the third-best total in the Top 14, then 587 last year, the best in the league. This season they lead the table again, and have not conceded a point in 160 minutes across Toulon and the second halves against Vannes and Bath, RMC Sport reports.
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A Springbok blueprint
Doumayrou, a former centre with 13 caps, builds on the South African model: close the first four or five defenders down, then rush up with intensity. The idea is to smother the ball carrier, shut the space and force him back into traffic, so the turnover comes in a favourable zone. He does not count missed tackles the usual way. A player who flew up and pushed the attacker inside has done his job even if he whiffed.
Players describe the work as precise and demanding. Montpellier’s Arthur Vincent says the detail is huge, from shoulder position to footwork, while Montpellier manager Joan Caudullo concedes Doumayrou can be hard but says it is always meant to make people better.
Adjustments, not a revolution
Mickael Guillard says Doumayrou has kept the existing France system and added small tweaks, with tighter alignment and better connection between defenders. Caudullo expects some rough edges during the Nations Championship, as a high-risk rush leaves space behind. The target is a defence that works for the World Cup, with about a year to build it.
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