France's heart-breaking defeat in the 2023 World Cup quarter-finals and last year's Six Nations runners-up spot shaped their success in this year's tournament, head coach Fabien Galthie has said.
Les Bleus turned on the power after a shaky first half to beat Scotland 35-16 and wrap up their first Six Nations title since 2022, beating several records on a festive Parisian night.
"I don't know if it makes up for the World Cup (elimination), but we're very happy to win this trophy," centre Yoram Moefana said, referring to France's 29-28 defeat against South Africa on home soil at the last World Cup.
Moefana scored two tries with Thomas Ramos and Louis Bielle-Biarrey adding one each as France prevailed with a bonus point to finish one point ahead of England, with a much better points difference and a record 30 tries in the campaign.
Galthie, who has transformed the squad since taking over in 2020, believes that tough times have helped them grow.
"We are not putting anything behind, we're keeping the good, and the bad memories," the former France captain told a press conference.
"This team are much better than in 2023, and better than last year."
The RTÉ panel salute France after they clinced the Six Nations title by beating Scotland. pic.twitter.com/kf4KPDVxWC
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 15, 2025
France had finished second in the Six Nations four times in five years and they could have come up just short once again after losing 26-25 to England at Twickenham after wasting a string of try chances in the first half.
Les Bleus, however, bounced back by destroying Italy before a pivotal game against three-in-a-row chasing Ireland, who they beat 42-27 at the Aviva Stadium despite losing talisman Antoine Dupont to a season-ending knee injury.
"We have been building a squad who are able to react in chaotic situations like they did after the England game and during the Ireland match," said Galthie.
"The game against Ireland was pivotal because they were playing for the Grand Slam and we were playing to stay in contention."
France kept their composure and with a 7-1 bench, reminiscent of South Africa's in their World Cup triumph two years ago, used their forward power to dominate Ireland and set up a decider against Scotland.
On Saturday, they overcame having just a nervy 16-13 interval lead to deliver in a fine second half.
"The pressure crept up on us," Galthie said. "We prepared without pressure but then we got tense and Scotland were playing freely, with nothing in mind but playing good rugby."
It went France's way eventually, and they are now hungry for more.
"All we wanted was to see Antoine Dupont lift the trophy," said captain Gregory Alldritt.
"It's done. We've had difficult moments in the past. To say that it's behind us we'll have to wait for (the) 2027 (World Cup). See you next year, we want more."
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend however, was baffled by the decision not to send off French hooker Peato Mauvaka for an apparent headbutt on Ben White.
In the 20th minute, Mauvaka escaped with only a yellow card after launching his head into White while the scrum-half was grounded, after being pushed over by Thomas Ramos amid a melee in the wake of a French penalty being awarded.
"Well the decision not to raise it to a red card was because there was not excessive force," said Townsend. "I'm not sure that’s really the criteria for a non-tackle incident.
"It clearly was a non-tackle incident, it was after the whistle. So, if there was head contact and that was intentional, it shouldn’t be anything to do with the force that was involved.
"I feel sorry for Ben White here, because he did nothing. He was first of all pushed to the ground, and a push is nothing in rugby, and then he got collided in the head, so I don’t know how it wasn’t raised to a red card.
"But whether that has had anything to do with the final result, who knows, because France deserved the win, deserve to be champions, they’re a quality side. Even though we played really well at times tonight, France were the better team in the end."
